Bill 3578

                    Current Status

Introducing Body:               House
Bill Number:                    3578
Primary Sponsor:                McKay
Committee Number:               15
Type of Legislation:            CR
Subject:                        FAA Block Grant Program
Residing Body:                  Senate
Current Committee:              Transportation
Computer Document Number:       NO5/8908SD.93
Introduced Date:                19930302    
Last History Body:              Senate
Last History Date:              19930309    
Last History Type:              Introduced, referred to
                                Committee
Scope of Legislation:           Statewide
All Sponsors:                   McKay
Type of Legislation:            Concurrent
                                Resolution

Bill  Body    Date          Action Description              CMN  Leg Involved
____  ______  ____________  ______________________________  ___  ____________

3578  Senate  19930309      Introduced, referred to         15
                            Committee
3578  House   19930308      Adopted, sent to Senate
3578  House   19930304      Committee Report: Favorable     24
3578  House   19930302      Introduced, referred to         24
                            Committee

COMMITTEE REPORT

March 4, 1993

H. 3578

S. Printed 3/4/93--H.

Read the first time March 2, 1993.

To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (S. 3578), to memoralize Congress to add additional states in 1993, etc., respectfully

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

DEWITT WILLIAMS, for Committee.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO MEMORIALIZE CONGRESS TO ADD ADDITIONAL STATES IN 1993 TO THE FAA BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM.

Whereas, a balanced, safe, and efficient system of airports and aviation services is essential to the commercial vitality and economic development of South Carolina; and

Whereas, prudent management of the State's existing aviation resources and sound planning for their future development require the ability not only to forecast needs but also the ability to anticipate the resources likely to be available to meet those needs; and

Whereas, like other transportation programs, South Carolina's aviation program relies to a significant measure, but not exclusively, on federal financing; and

Whereas, collectively, the states have sought and supported the development and preservation of a balanced system of airports and other aviation services that can be responsive to the diverse needs of the many geographic regions and economic sectors of the entire country; and

Whereas, the General Assembly of South Carolina believes that it is the mutual responsibility of federal, state, and local governments to continue to support balanced, planned, predictable airport growth and development; and

Whereas, the primary role of the federal government in this endeavor has been and should remain the establishment and maintenance of uniform standards in the area of airport and aviation operations safety; and

Whereas, the primary responsibility of the states, in these matters, should remain the promotion and development of airport systems based on plans that are integrated and coordinated with other transportation systems, modes, and plans; and

Whereas, local governments, too, play a vital role in the evolution of a well-considered national aviation system by identifying local airport and aviation needs and seeking ways of matching these needs with resources available from state, federal, and nongovernmental resources; and

Whereas, airport development strategies based on a synthesis of local, state, regional, and federal plans and programs, make use of pooled technical expertise and financial and other resources; and

Whereas, through close cooperation of local, state, and federal governments, a clearly defined FAA Block Grant Program has been produced, based primarily on approved state, regional, and metropolitan airport systems plans, updated continuously as new information becomes available; and

Whereas, there needs to be a continuing federal airport planning and development program to help finance that portion of the airport and airway system which has been identified in the FAA Block Grant Program as being of national importance; and

Whereas, implementation of the FAA Block Grant Program is most appropriately financed by aviation system user taxes and by federal fund appropriations in consideration of the benefits derived by the general public from the total air transportation system; and

Whereas, current FAA rules and regulations do not recognize economic development as part of its criteria; and

Whereas, as long as the need for further airport and aviation service improvements can be demonstrated, federal legislative authorization for the FAA Block Grant Program needs to be reconsidered and re-opened to allow states which desire and are qualified to participate in the program, which will permit disbursement of at least the minimum amounts required for continued full funding of airport improvements. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the Congress of the United States is hereby memorialized to add additional states in 1993 to the FAA Block Grant Program.

Be it further resolved that copies of this resolution be forwarded to the United States Senate, the United States House of Representatives, and to each member of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation.