I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 903
To establish a commission to review the Federal Aviation Administration.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 6, 2001
Mr. WOLF introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure
A BILL
To establish a commission to review the Federal Aviation
Administration.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Commission for Com-
prehensive Review of the Federal Aviation Administration
Act’’.
SEC. 2. COMMISSION.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a com-
mission to be known as the Commission for Comprehen-
sive Review of the Federal Aviation Administration (re-
ferred to in this section as the ‘‘Commission’’).
(b) FUNCTIONS.—The functions of the Commission
shall be—
(1) to review existing and alternative options
for organizational structure of air traffic services, in-
cluding a government corporation and incentive
based fees for services;
(2) to provide recommendations for any nec-
essary changes in structure of the Federal Aviation
Administration so that it will be able to support the
future growth in the national aviation and airport
system; except that the Commission may only rec-
ommend changes to the structure and organization
of the Federal Aviation Administration that are
within the existing structure of the Federal Govern-
ment;
(3) to review air traffic management system
performance and to identify appropriate levels of
cost accountability for air traffic management serv-
ices;
(4) to review aviation safety and make rec-
ommendations for the long-term improvement of
safety; and
(5) to make additional recommendations that
would advance more efficient and effective Federal
Aviation Administration for the benefit of the gen-
eral traveling public and the aviation transportation
industry.
(c) MEMBERSHIP.—
(1) APPOINTMENTS.—The Commission shall be
composed of 24 members appointed by the President
as follows:
(A) 8 individuals with no personal or busi-
ness financial interest in the airline or aero-
space industry to represent the traveling public.
Of these, 1 shall be a nationally recognized ex-
pert in finance, 1 in corporate management and
1 in human resources management.
(B) 6 individuals from the airline industry.
Of these, 1 shall be from a major national air
carrier, 1 from an unaffiliated regional air car-
rier, 1 from a cargo air carrier, 1 from the Air-
craft Owners and Pilots Association, and 1
from the National Association of State Aviation
Officials.
(C) 3 individuals representing labor and
professional associations. Of these, 1 shall be
from National Air Traffic Controllers Associa-
tion, 1 from the Air Line Pilots Association,
and 1 from the Professional Airways Systems
Specialists.
(D) 2 individuals representing airports and
airport authorities. Of these, 1 shall be rep-
resent a large hub airport.
(E) 1 individual representing the aerospace
and aircraft manufacturers industries.
(F) 1 individual from the Department of
Defense.
(G) 1 individual from the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration.
(H) 2 individuals from the Department of
Transportation. Of these, 1 shall be from the
Federal Aviation Administration and 1 from the
Office of the Secretary of Transportation.
(2) TERMS.—Each member shall be appointed
for a term of 18 months.
(d) FIRST MEETING.—The Commission may conduct
its first meeting as soon as a majority of the members
of the Commission are appointed.
(e) HEARINGS AND CONSULTATION.—
(1) HEARINGS.—The Commission shall take
such testimony and solicit and receive such com-
ments from the public and other interested parties
as it considers appropriate, shall conduct at least 2
public hearings after affording adequate notice to
the public thereof, and may conduct such additional
hearings as may be necessary.
(2) CONSULTATION.—The Commission shall
consult on a regular and frequent basis with the
Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of De-
fense, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation, the Committee on Appropriations
and the Committee on Finance of the Senate, and
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture, the Committee on Appropriations and the
Committee on Ways and Means of the House of
Representatives.
(3) FACA NOT TO APPLY.—The Commission
shall not be considered an advisory committee for
purposes of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5
U.S.C. App.).
(f) ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS AND STAFF.—The Fed-
eral Aviation Administration may give the Commission ap-
propriate access to relevant documents and personnel and
shall make available, consistent with the authority to with-
hold commercial and other proprietary information under
section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly
known as the ‘‘Freedom of Information Act’’), cost data
associated with the acquisition and operation of air traffic
service systems. Any member of the Commission who re-