Alexandria, VA, February 3, 2012 — The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) today welcomed approval by the U.S. House of Representatives of a four-year, $63.6 billion bill to ensure continued aviation safety and infrastructure funding.

"I applaud House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Mica and Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Petri and Ranking Members Rahall and Costello, for their leadership in reaching an accord that will provide long-term funding and directional stability for the aviation industry that we simply did not have with the previous 23 short-term extensions," stated NATA President and CEO James K. Coyne. "While getting to this point has taken entirely too long, we appreciate the resolve that congressional transportation leaders had in finally making this bill become a reality."

It is expected that the U.S. Senate will approve the measure sometime next week.

"I hope the Senate approves this measure as quickly as possible so we can move past the legislative uncertainty that has been cast on our industry for the last five years and, instead, press forward with aviation safety, infrastructure and air traffic control improvements," concluded Coyne.

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NATA, the voice of aviation business, is the public policy group representing the interests of aviation businesses before the Congress and federal agencies.

For general press inquiries, contact Shannon Chambers at 703-298-1347 or schambers@nata.aero. 

The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has been the voice of aviation business for more than 80 years. Representing nearly 3,700 aviation businesses, NATA’s member companies provide a broad range of services to general aviation, the airlines and the military and NATA serves as the public policy group representing the interests of aviation businesses before Congress and the federal agencies.