JOINT RESOLUTION TO MEMORIALIZE THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION AND THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO OPPOSE CERTAIN FEDERAL AVIATION LEGISLATION

your Memorialists, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Maine now assembled in the First Regular Session, most respectfully present and petition the United States Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration and the United States Congress as follows:

WHEREAS,  because the State of Maine's geography has many isolated communities with limited highway and road access, general aviation is a major component of its transportation and travel system; and

WHEREAS,  the people of Maine depend on general aviation to move and distribute mail, supplies, goods and people around the State; and

WHEREAS,  H.R. 1356 and S. 1076 are companion federal bills proposing the Next Generation Air Transportation System Financing Reform Act of 2007 and are pending before the United States Congress; and

WHEREAS,  the proposed Act would increase the tax on aviation gas from 19.4¢ a gallon to 70¢ a gallon and the tax on aviation fuel from 21.9¢ a gallon to 70¢ a gallon; and

WHEREAS,  the proposed Act would also implement user fees associated with the use of the National Airspace System; and

WHEREAS,  the Next Generation Air Transportation System Financing Reform Act of 2007 proposes to remove congressional oversight of the Federal Aviation Administration; and

WHEREAS,  such an increase in taxes, implementation of user fees and reduction of airport funding could possibly be a huge safety issue, and Maine is currently one of the safest states in air traffic; and

WHEREAS,  such an increase in taxes, implementation of user fees and reduction of airport funding would be detrimental to the economy of this State and would have a particularly harsh impact on many isolated rural communities; now, therefore, be it

That We, your Memorialists, on behalf of the people we represent, take this opportunity to respectfully oppose the enactment of the provisions in the Next Generation Air Transportation System Financing Reform Act of 2007 that impose user fees, increase aviation fuel and aviation gas taxes, reduce airport funding and reduce congressional oversight of the Federal Aviation Administration and to respectfully request that this Act not be passed; and be it further

That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the United States Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, to the President of the United States Senate, to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and to each Member of the Maine Congressional Delegation.