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[House Report 111-593]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

111th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session                                                     111-593

======================================================================

 
       SUPPORTING BACKCOUNTRY AIRSTRIPS AND RECREATIONAL AVIATION

                                _______
                                

 September 14, 2010.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be 
                                printed

                                _______
                                

Mr. Oberstar, from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                      [To accompany H. Res. 1473]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom 
was referred the resolution (H. Res. 1473) supporting 
backcountry airstrips and recreational aviation, having 
considered the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment 
and recommend that the resolution be agreed to.
    The amendment is as follows:
    Strike the preamble and insert the following:

Whereas recreational aviation represents a significant portion of the 
    Nation's aviation activity;
Whereas recreational aviators utilize backcountry airstrips as access 
    points for a variety of activities;
Whereas backcountry airstrips provide multiple benefits to the general 
    public, including search and rescue, fire management, research, 
    disaster relief, and wildlife management benefits;
Whereas recreational aviation helps State economies by providing 
    efficient access to recreational activities for visitors;
Whereas backcountry airstrips serve as emergency landing sites for 
    aircraft in the event of mechanical problems or inclement weather; 
    and
Whereas backcountry airstrips provide for dispersed recreational 
    activity and act as internal trailheads within backcountry areas: 
    Now, therefore, be it

                       PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION

    H. Res. 1473, as amended, recognizes the value of 
recreational aviation and backcountry airstrips located on the 
nation's public lands and commends aviators and the various 
organizations that maintain these airstrips for public use.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    In general, a backcountry airstrip is an unattended landing 
area in a location that provides access to remote, undeveloped 
rural areas by aircraft, usually airplanes.
    Backcountry airstrips allow enhanced access for a variety 
of recreational activities, emergency services, firefighting, 
and land management activities, and they provide a means of 
access to remote areas for physically disadvantaged individuals 
who might not otherwise be able to get to remote locations for 
leisure. These airstrips also serve as efficient access points 
for tourists, who in turn contribute to local economies and 
small businesses. More importantly, in the event of mechanical 
problems or inclement weather, they serve as emergency landing 
sites for aircraft when larger airports are out of reach.
    Many backcountry airstrips are privately owned. However, 
several state aviation offices own and operate backcountry 
airstrips, and many airstrips are owned by public agencies 
involved in land management, such as the U.S. Forest Service, 
National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the 
Bureau of Reclamation.

                       SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION

    H. Res. 1473, as amended, recognizes the value of 
recreational aviation and backcountry airstrips located on the 
nation's public lands and commends aviators and the various 
organizations that maintain these airstrips for public use.

            LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

    On June 24, 2010, Representative Denny Rehberg introduced 
H. Res. 1473, supporting backcountry airstrips and recreational 
aviation. This resolution has not been introduced in a previous 
Congress.
    On July 29, 2010, the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure met in open session to consider H. Res. 1473. 
The Committee adopted an amendment to the bill by voice vote 
with a quorum present. The Committee ordered the bill, as 
amended, reported favorably to the House by a voice vote with a 
quorum present.

                              RECORD VOTES

    Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires each committee report to include the 
total number of votes cast for and against on each record vote 
on a motion to report and on any amendment offered to the 
measure or matter, and the names of those members voting for 
and against. There were no recorded votes taken in connection 
with consideration of H. Res. 1473 or ordering the resolution 
reported. A motion to order H. Res. 1473, as amended, reported 
favorably to the House was agreed to by voice vote with a 
quorum present.

                      COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(1) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are 
reflected in this report.

                          COST OF LEGISLATION

    With respect to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, H. Res. 1473, as amended, is a 
resolution of the House of Representatives, and therefore does 
not have the force of law. As such, there is no cost associated 
with this resolution for fiscal year 2010, or any fiscal year 
thereafter.

                    COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

    1. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(2) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and 
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the 
Committee advises that the resolution contains no measure that 
authorizes funding, so no comparison of the total estimated 
funding level for the relevant programs to the appropriate 
levels under current law is required.
    2. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee advises that the resolution contains no measure that 
authorizes funding, so no statement of general performance 
goals and objectives for any measure that authorizes funding is 
required.
    3. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the 
Committee advises that the resolution contains no measure that 
authorizes funding, so no cost estimate nor comparison for any 
measure that authorizes funding is required.

                     COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XXI

    Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House 
of Representatives, the Committee is required to include a list 
of congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited 
tariff benefits, as defined in clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of 
rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives. H. Res. 
1473, as amended, does not contain any earmarks, limited tax 
benefits, or limited tariff benefits under clause 9(e), 9(f), 
or 9(g) of rule XXI.

                   CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

    With respect to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, H. Res. 1473, as amended, is a 
resolution of the House of Representatives, and therefore does 
not have the force of law. As such, clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII 
does not apply.

                       FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

    H. Res. 1473, as amended, contains no Federal mandates.

                        PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION

    Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 
requires the report of any Committee on a bill or joint 
resolution to include a statement on the extent to which the 
bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local, 
or tribal law. The Committee states that H. Res. 1473, as 
amended, does not preempt any state, local, or tribal law.

                      ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

    No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act are created by this 
legislation.

                APPLICABILITY TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

    The Committee finds that the resolution does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (P.L. 104-1).

         CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

    H. Res. 1473, as amended, makes no changes in existing law.

                                  
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