House Committee Passes Bill to Privatize Air Traffic Control

The Republican-controlled House committee on Thursday endorsed a bill that would wrest responsibility for running the nation's air traffic control system from the government and turn it over to a private, nonprofit corporation run by airlines and other aviation interests.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved the measure on a mostly party-line vote of 32-26 over the objections of Democrats, who called it a giveaway to the airlines that are providing the political muscle behind the bill. The bill reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration and sets aviation policy for six years.

The panel's chairman and the bill's chief sponsor, Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa., said "transformational" change is needed because the FAA's air traffic modernization program is taking longer and costing more than anticipated. The program will switch the system from one based on radar to one based on satellites.

Both sides agree the delays and cost overruns have come partly because Congress has subjected the agency to shutdowns, furloughs and repeated short-term funding extensions. It's difficult for the FAA to commit to expensive, long-term contracts for new equipment and services because it's dependent on yearly budget infusions from lawmakers.

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