Washington – Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Bud Shuster today called President Clinton’s signing of an aviation bill a major step toward making our skies safer, reducing flight delays and improving  air service for all Americans.

        “Air travelers are the big winners today,” Shuster said.  “This new law will make our skies safer and help to improve air service in our big cities and in our small communities.  Everybody wins today.”

        In a private ceremony, President Clinton this morning signed into law H.R. 1000, the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21), a bill which will dramatically increase investment in the nation’s aviation system by more than $10 billion over the next three years.

        “With AIR 21, the money the traveling public pays in ticket taxes will finally be dedicated solely to improving the safety and efficiency of our aviation system,” Shuster said.  “This legislation will go a long way toward relieving our overburdened aviation system.”

        AIR 21 is a three-year bill that will increase aviation investment by $10 billion over current levels, with the lion’s share of the funding going to radar modernization and much-needed airport construction projects.  The total authorized funding for federal aviation programs will be $40 billion over the next three years, $33 billion of which will be guaranteed from the Aviation Trust Fund, while $6.7 billion will be available to be appropriated from the General Fund.

        A summary of the bill and an airport-by-airport breakdown is available on the committee website at www.house.gov/transportation.