{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://larsen.house.gov/press-release/larsen-opening-statement-faa-reauthorization-issues-modernizing-and-operating-nation%E2%80%99s", "Larsen Opening Statement: FAA Reauthorization: Issues in Modernizing and Operating the Nations Airspace", "2014-11-18", "2014", "2014-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Rick Larsen", "L000560", "larsen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u2014 Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, the Ranking Member of the Aviation Subcommittee, delivered the following statement at the House Transportation and Infrastructure\u2019s hearing, \u201cFAA Reauthorization: Issues in Modernizing and Operating the Nation\u2019s Airspace.\u201d The remarks are as prepared for delivery.\nThank you, Chairman Shuster, for calling today\u2019s hearing on our work ahead to reauthorize federal aviation programs by October 2015.\u00a0 I look forward to working with you, Chairman LoBiondo, and all my colleagues to get a bill done on time\u2014one that improves safety and keeps our aviation system the envy of the world.\nI would also like to recognize the families of the passengers on Colgan Flight 3407, who are with us today.\u00a0 We welcome you and thank you for your tireless efforts to improve aviation safety.\nI will be brief because I want to hear from our witnesses.\u00a0 With the current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization expiring September 30, 2015, it is time to get down to business.\u00a0\nI recognize that many aviation stakeholders, including a few testifying here today, are frustrated with the funding uncertainty and the delays associated with NextGen.\nBut let\u2019s be clear: The FAA is making progress\u2014and good progress\u2014thanks to the Aviation Subcommittee\u2019s strong oversight under Chairman LoBiondo\u2019s leadership.\nThis time last year, we were uncertain when we would see a plan for implementing DataComm.\u00a0 Now, in response to a tasking by Chairman LoBiondo and me, the FAA has a plan, with industry support, to implement DataComm.\u00a0\nThis time last year, we were uncertain about the path forward for performance-based navigation (PBN) procedures.\u00a0 Now, again in response to our tasking, the FAA has a plan\u2014with industry support\u2014for accelerating PBN procedure implementation.\u00a0 And the list goes on.\nSo when I read in some stakeholders\u2019 testimony that the FAA is not moving fast enough on several of these programs, I would point out that we have progressed significantly from last year.\u00a0 And Chairman LoBiondo and I remain laser-focused on making sure the FAA continues to make progress.\u00a0\nMoreover, under Chairman LoBiondo\u2019s leadership, the Aviation Subcommittee held three hearings in the last Congress on the FAA\u2019s work to streamline the certification process.\u00a0 We heard the FAA has made progress.\u00a0 We also held two subcommittee meetings on the FAA\u2019s work to integrate unmanned aircraft systems and will stay focused on progress there.\u00a0\nBut at the same time we recognize that more must be done.\u00a0\u00a0 The FAA must have funding certainty and the flexibility to invest.\u00a0 When we talk about the FAA\u2019s challenges in running programs smoothly, we need to recognize that the agency\u2019s problem is not simply a management problem.\u00a0 I think the agency has a political problem.\u00a0\nLast year\u2019s efforts by some in Congress to force the federal government off of the fiscal cliff were not only a catastrophe for the everyday operation of the airspace.\nThey also caused great harm to NextGen efforts.\u00a0 Just as the FAA must do better, so must we in Congress.\u00a0 And I hope today\u2019s hearing will give us a solid path for how we should progress with a strong bipartisan bill.\nI know conversations have been going on among stakeholders about air traffic reform.\nBut reauthorization must not be a science experiment.\u00a0 If we resolve to go big in this bill with significant air traffic reforms, we must do so methodically\u2014with a clear statement of the problem we are trying to solve and a clear understanding of how to solve it without compromising safety in any way.\nThis hearing is a good first step. Today, we are asking: What problems should we solve in the reauthorization?\u00a0 That is an important question, and I look forward to hearing how our witnesses would answer it.\nIn addition to airspace management, we also cannot lose sight of the work that needs to be done to safely implement UAS into the airspace, improve certification, and streamline FAA facilities.\nI look forward to tackling those topics in future hearings.\nOn that note, Mr. Chairman, I look forward to working with you and Chairman LoBiondo in the next Congress.\u00a0 With your continued commitment to bipartisanship, I know we can produce a bill that provides the funding, the stability, and the flexibility that the FAA needs.\u00a0 I thank you for holding this hearing, and I look forward to hearing from our witnesses.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://larsen.house.gov/press-release/larsen-opening-statement-faa-reauthorization-issues-modernizing-and-operating-nation%E2%80%99s"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.780928974971175, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}