House Committee Backs Fuel Tax

The U.S. House Ways & Means Committee approved on Sept. 18 a bill rejecting a user fee from commercial and general aviation to fund the Federal Aviation Administration. The bill, passed by a voice vote, seeks to increase fuel taxes on general aviation jets and leaves unchanged a tax on commercial airline tickets. The funding of the FAA either by keeping the fuel tax method in place or implementing a new user fees for jet aircraft using the air control system has divided the aviation industry. The commercial airlines back the user fee proposal, saying that it is more equitable. General aviation prefers to maintain the status quo of the fuel tax. The committee also passed a bill ordering collection of aviation taxes for 90 days if a new FAA reauthorization bill is not made into law by Sept. 30. The legislation still requires the vote of the full House.