WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, today announced an agreement on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Bill was reached with the Senate Commerce Committee eliminating a proposed user fee on general aviation. Roberts successfully fought to win this agreement after heated debate on the Commerce Committee proposed tax on small plane owners.

Senator Roberts made the following statement:

"For two years I’ve been fighting to protect General Aviation from a user fee that would create higher costs and more red tape for owners and pilots who fly their own planes.

"Stopping this user fee is General Aviation’s number one priority and I’m happy to announce we’ve done it."

"Senator Roberts used his knowledge of aviation and his position on the Finance Committee to negotiate a bill that is clearly in the best interests of the United States, the best interests of Kansas and the best interests of general aviation," said National Business Aviation Association president and CEO Ed Bolen. "We're grateful for his leadership on this issue."

Senator Roberts went on to say, "I’ve been working on this non-stop because it means so much to Kansas. About 40,000 employees in Wichita and the surrounding counties make their living building planes, manufacturing parts and servicing aviation. Kansas aviation is soon to be a 9-billion dollar industry.

"And, there’s more good news. We’ve also reached agreement to help fund the modernization of the air traffic control system, which will increase safety, decrease congestion, and move our aviation infrastructure into next generation technology."

The Senate will begin debate Monday on FAA Reauthorization.

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