Recently, the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee considered S. 1300, allowing America's biggest commercial airlines to avoid paying billions of dollars in taxes and instead force small and independent businesses and pilots across rural America to foot the bill.
BACKGROUND
For decades, community airports and general aviation has been a lifeline for small towns and communities throughout our nation. The big airlines concentrate 88.7% of their activity at only 67 major airports nationwide while 2,574 airports across the country are served by general aviation. These community airports and small businesses that use aviation are critical to our security, our mobility during national emergencies, and to our local economies. Local airports are home to 40% of the nation's general aviation fleet, are often the primary source of air transportation for about 19 percent of the U.S. population and are considered by the FAA to be particularly important to rural communities.
General aviation often provides the fastest transportation option to emergency medical facilities in rural areas. It is also responsible for our forest fire-fighting capabilities, farm area pesticide control, traffic enforcement on rural highways, wilderness search and rescue, just-in-time package delivery and many more uses critical to maintaining a healthy rural and small town economy. Additionally, in farm communities, "crop-dusters" are a critical part of maintaining a safe, high quality and low cost food supply. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that aerial application is responsible for protection of $13.5 billion in food and fiber grown in the U.S. Over 90% of aerial applicators both own and operate their own aircraft. Many aerial application businesses are family owned, 60% having been in business for over 20 years. The General Aviation Manufacturers Association estimates that the general aviation industry alone positively impacts the U.S. agriculture industry to the tune of $1.16 billion. The plan proposed by the FAA and the big airlines would place airlines' burden squarely upon the backs of small businesses like the crop-dusters.
BUDGET PROPOSAL HIGHLIGHTS
The Senate Commerce committee proposal, backed by big airlines, would shift the burden for financing the next generation of air traffic control systems to family farmers and rural communities that rely on general aviation. The commerce committee proposal would phase out the general airline 4.3 cent fuel tax and replace the revenue by doubling the fuel tax on small planes from 21 cents to 49 cents per gallon.
Congress needs to find ways to support rural communities and small towns by ensuring that they have continued access to aviation and the host of economic benefits it provides. The bill put forth by the Senate commerce committee and the big airlines will isolate our farming communities and cause severe economic harm by unfairly imposing new fees and taxes upon small businesses and general aviation.
GRANGE POLICY
General Transportation Policy
1. The Grange believes that it is in the best interest of farmers and consumers to continue efforts toward achieving a balanced transportation system at the lowest cost consistent with adequate and efficient service.
Action Needed
Please e-mail your U. S. Representative and U. S. Senators urging them to oppose S. 1300 in its current form, which would impose a new and controversial user fee tax on general aviation in favor of alternatives that are more equitable for small and independent businesses and pilots across rural America. Please feel free to cut and paste the following sample letter. If you do not know your Senators’ e-mail addresses please click here to find them. For your Representative’s e-mail address please click here .
Sample E-mail:
Dear Senator/Representative ____________,
The U.S. Senate is currently considering S. 1300 allowing America's biggest commercial airlines to avoid paying billions of dollars in taxes and instead force small and independent businesses and pilots across rural America to foot the bill for necessary improvements to our national air traffic control system. For decades, community airports and general aviation has been a lifeline for small towns and communities throughout our nation. These community airports and small businesses that use aviation are critical to our security, our mobility during national emergencies, and to our local economies.
General aviation often provides the fastest transportation option to emergency medical facilities in rural areas. It is responsible for our forest fire-fighting capabilities, farm area pesticide control, traffic enforcement on rural highways, wilderness search and rescue, just-in-time package delivery and many more uses critical to maintaining a healthy rural and small town economy. Additionally, "crop-dusters" are a critical part of maintaining a safe, high quality and low cost food supply. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that aerial application is responsible for protection of $13.5 billion in food and fiber grown in the U.S.
Congress should find ways to support rural communities and small towns by ensuring that they have continued access to aviation and the host of economic benefits it provides. The bill put forth by the FAA and the big airlines will isolate our farming communities and cause severe economic harm by unfairly imposing new fees and taxes upon small businesses and general aviation. I urge you to vote in favor of amendments to the Federal Aviation Administration’s proposed budget that are more equitable for small and independent businesses and pilots across rural America. Thank you for your consideration.
(Signature)
(Name)_________________
(Grange name and number) ________________
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If you have any questions or comments regarding this Action Alert, please contact Legislative Director Leroy Watson by e-mail: lwatson@nationalgrange.org, or by phone: 1-888-4GRANGE, ext. 114.
Thank you for your grassroots participation in the National Grange Legislative Program.
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