Date: 2009-05-21
Speaker: LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Id like to thank my friend the gentleman from New York for the time. and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. south Florida has a rich and proud flying history. Aviations entry into south Florida came in 1911 when the Wright brothers delivered a biplane for Miamis 15th anniversary celebration. 0l 1100 After World War I. the city rapidly developed as an aviation center. By 1928. Pan American Airways had moved its headquarters to Miami. followed soon by Eastern Airlines and National Airlines. In 1937. Amelia Earhart took off from Miami Airport in Hialeah on her final fateful aroundtheworld flight. During World War II. Miami transformed into a training base and departure point for the theaters of war. Following the victory. commercial aviation expetienced an explosion in growth and development. and Miami International Airport -rose to prominence. Today. that airport continues to be one of the busiest in the Nation and a major gateway to the Americas. In 2008. almost 34 million passenger passed through Miami International Airport. Almost half of them were international passengers. MIA is not only a hub for international travel. it also plays an integral role in global trade. The airport is among the Nations top air cargo handlers. with almost 2 million tons handled last year. and a record 2.1 million tons processed in 2006. Also. MIA handled nearly 80 percent of all air cargo imports and exports betwden the United States and Latin America. Because it is both an international hub for passengers and cargo. the airport provides the south Florida community with an economic contribution of over $26 billion annually. generating almost 300.000 jobs. almost $700 million in Federal aviation tax revenue. and almost $1 billion dollars in State. county and municipal tax revenue. However. if MIA is going to continue to play such an important role as a trade gateway. it obviously must continue to grow. The airport is currently in the midst of a $6.2 billion capital improvement program that has made progress. Its had some problems. but its made progress. despite costly delays and large cost increases. This capital program. when completed in 2011. will expand the terminal and concourses by over 3.9 million square feet. for a total of 7.4 million square feet. with added cargo facilities increasing from 2.7 million square feet of space and 17 buildings to nearly 3.5 million square feet and 20 cargo processing buildings. If U.S. air travel is to continue its fundamental role in our economy. we have to make certain that we have the safest. most modern and efficient transportation system in the world. By reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration funding- and safety oversight programs. the underlying legislation that is being brought to the floor takes an important step toward that goal. H.R. 915 helps airports meet the challenges of congestion and delays by. among other things. authorizing over $16 billion for the Airport Improvement Program. That program provides grants to airports to help them with capacity and infrastructure problems. The bill also provides over $13 billion for facilities and equipment programs to expedite the deployment of the Next Generation Air Transportation System. and to assist airports in repairing. replacing and upgrading existing equipment and facilities. Currently. there is a contract dispute between the air traffic controllers and -the Federal Aviation Administration. Now. .I admire air traffic controllers. They are highly trained. hardworking professionals. Im honored to know those who are in south Florida. the air traffic controllers. and Im very proud of them. Im very proud of them for their extraordinary work and their dedication. Under great pressure. with no room for error. they manage our skies and keep the traveling public safe. Im pleased that the distinguished chairman has acknowledged the dispute and taken steps- to resolve the issue. Although I support the underlying legislatin. Mr. Speaker. very important underlying legislation. I.must oppose the rule that is bringing it to the floor because it blocks. that rule blocks a complete and fair debate unnecessarily. once again and unfortunately. once again. The rule brought forth by the majority today forbids the House from considering amendments from Members on both sides of the aisle. Yes. it allows four out of six Republican amendments that were introduced in the Rules Committee. but it blocks. it prohibits. a total of 21 amendments. Some of those amendments are bipartisan amendments. and most are amendments from the majority party. I may not have voted for all those amendments that wcre blocked by the majority on the Rules Committee. but I certainly believe that this House should have had the opportunity to debate them. to consider them. and to vote on all the amendments. I dont know why. Mr. Speaker. Im not sure why the majority. each time a bill comes up for consideration under a rule. it consistently. the majority consistently blocks amendments from debate. Why? Why is the majority blocking amendments? Is it that theyre afraid of debate? Are they afraid of losing the vote on some amendments? Are they protecting their Members from what they consider to be tough. difficult votes? Are they afraid of the democratic process? Or is it all of the above? I reserve.