Number: RL33913
Title: Aviation Finance: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization and Related Issues
Authors: John W. Fisher, Resources, Science, and Industry Division 
Abstract: This report provides background information on how the existing trust fund based aviation finance system operates, discusses several basic issues concerning aviation taxation, and identifies FAA programmatic spending. From that point on the report focuses on three major issues related to the trust fund. First is the question of whether the trust fund will provide sufficient revenue to meet the growing needs of the FAA's activities and programs. Second is the controversial issue of how much of the FAA's total funding should come from the Treasury's general fund account, the so-called "public interest" contribution. And third is the long standing issue of whether the existing tax and fee system is the appropriate mechanism for producing trust fund revenues, or whether an entirely new revenue collection mechanism should be adopted.
Pages: 31
Date: April 21, 2008