WASHINGTON, DC, September 20, 2007 – Today, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2881, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2007.

“We are extremely pleased by the House action,” said Pete Bunce, GAMA President and CEO. “The bill authorizes increased funding for modernization as plans mature for the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). The House accomplished this without the unwise implementation of user fees as requested by the Administration or a debilitating increase in general aviation fuel taxes."

“H.R. 2881 is the product of a lot of intense work carried out by the leadership of both the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee. We want to thank Chairmen Oberstar, Rangel and Costello for their collaborative efforts with all members of Congress and the aerospace industry that led to today’s affirmative vote."

Bunce added, "GAMA also wants to thank Congressman Todd Tiahrt for his continued strong support of general aviation. He has been a tireless leader for our industry and we owe him a debt of gratitude for spearheading the charge in the House against a proposed user fee financing mechanism that has a proven track record of being tremendously harmful to general aviation in other countries.”