WASHINGTON, DC, February 8, 2007 – Today, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) welcomed questioning by Congressional leaders regarding the Administration’s contention that they must establish user fees to achieve transformation of the national airspace system.

Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) questioned Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters this morning before the Senate Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies. The Senator questioned the Secretary on her plans to implement user fees and significantly raise aviation fuel taxes.

He began by pointing out that the President’s budget shows that the upcoming FAA reauthorization bill and its user fees and fuel tax scheme would raise LESS revenue than simply extending current law and tax rates. Administration budget documents show that between 2008 and 2012, the new user fee scheme will raise approximately $1 billion less than the current funding mechanism.

The Senator went on to ask, "How can you say your funding proposal is needed to modernize our nation’s air traffic control system when you would raise less revenue over the next five years?”

"I’m pleased to see that within days of the Administration releasing its budget, Members of Congress are asking tough questions about this ill-advised funding scheme. We hope that more Members of Congress will challenge the Administration’s rhetoric that our aviation system cannot be modernized without implementing user fees," said Pete Bunce, GAMA’s President and CEO.