House science panel backs increase in airport security funding

The House Science and Technology Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics approved a bill Thursday calling for increased funds for research and development of the next generation of airport surveillance and security systems.

The bill (H.R. 2698) provides a total of $1.8 billion over the next four fiscal years for research and development of airport projects under the jurisdiction of the Federal Aviation Administration. The total is approximately $117.4 million more than President Bush's request for fiscal 2008-fiscal 2011.

Both Republicans and Democrats on the subcommittee were in agreement on the measure, which now goes to the full committee for consideration. It was approved on a voice vote with no audible dissent.

"This legislation is focused on ensuring the FAA will have the tools that it will need to keep the nation's air transportation system safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly," said Subcommittee Chairman Mark Udall, D-Colo., who sponsored the bill.

A key portion of the legislation strengthens the Joint Planning and Development Office, which has the responsibility for developing the next generation of airport transportation systems. Those systems include human factors, weather, unmanned aerial vehicles and environmental research, as well as radar systems.

It requires the agency to come up with a plan to ensure that the new transportation system meets anticipated future air transportation safety, security, mobility, efficiency and capacity needs. In addition, the bill calls for a plan to deal with incapacitation of the system in the event of a natural disaster or terrorism.

Udall noted that environmental factors have become increasingly important in air transportation, especially in other countries.

"Recent announcements from Europe regarding the potential imposition of emissions penalties on aircraft operations in the next decade have also made it clear that the U.S. needs to better understand the impact of aviation on the climate as well as what might be done to mitigate that impact," Udall said.

Ranking subcommittee member Tom Feeney, R-Fla., also supported the legislation, particularly considering the coming demands on the air traffic system.

"The FAA is a unique federal enterprise," he said. "Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, it operates a complex nationwide network of communications, navigation and surveillance systems upon which our civil, military and general aviation aircraft are completely dependent. The architecture of this system dates back 50 years. It is simply incapable, as currently designed, of handling large increases in traffic."