MPA LEGISLATION REPORT
January 2001

GREETINGS! This is my Sixth Report to you as MPA Members. First, Here's more information from Washington, D.C.

A House rule limiting committee chairmen to six years was implemented late last week, and will change the leadership of key committees and subcommittees with jurisdiction over General Aviation Issues. Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) was, as expected, named the new chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Rep. Young was previously chairman of the House Resources Committee and second-ranking Republican on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. He also was a member of the House Aviation Subcommittee and of the Republican Steering Committee. Rep. Young strongly supported AIR-21 and co-sponsored H.R. 3661, The General Aviation Access Act, a bill that would ensure general aviation aircraft access To federal land and airspace over the land.

Young is sensitive to the GA community's needs as Alaskans rely heavily on aviation. The author of H.R. 3661, Rep. James Hansen (R-Utah), has now been named the chairman of the House Resources Committee. Rep. Hansen is a GA pilot and an AOPA member. In 1994 Hansen won AOPA's Hartranft Award in recognition of his efforts on behalf of general aviation product liability.

Last Saturday, January 6TH, three new members of Congress, Sam Graves (R-Mo.), Dennis Rehberg (R-Mont.) and Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), supported by the AOPA Political Action Committee, were named to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Rep. Harold Rogers (R-Ky) was named chairman of the House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee. Rep. Rogers replaces Rep, Frank Wolf (R-Va.). The subcommittee is responsible for the annual funding of the FAA, and is key to ensuring continued funding of the AIR-21 agreement.

For the past six years, Rep. Rogers has been a member of the transportation panel while also chairing the House appropriations subcommittee that funds the departments of Commerce, Justice, and State. The naming of Chairman to the House and Senate Aviation Subcommittees and ranking member of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee is expected in the coming Weeks.

Now, here's information on the State Level, The Missouri House of Representatives 2001 Session, 91ST General Assembly, and First Regular Session. Here are the Official Dates of Interest:

December 1:	Prefiling of House Bills
January 3:	GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONVENES (Wednesday, 12:00 Noon)
January 8:	Inauguration
January 10:	State of Judiciary Address
January 30:	State of the State and Budget Address (Subject to Confirmation)
January 30:	Reporting in of House Bills Begin (TENTATIVE)
February 27:	Reporting in of Appropriation Bills Begin (TENTATIVE)
March 15:	LEGISLATIVE SPRING BREAK (Begins upon Adjournment)
March 26:	LEGISLATIVE SPRING BREAK (Ends; Session Reconvenes)

The only AIRCRAFT AND AIRPORTS BILL is HB 93 - Sponsor: Sam Gaskill. Regulates private, unpaid gubernatorial airplane flights and allows for private use of government planes by the governor in certain conditions.

Now, in conclusion, Every MPA Member needs to stay in close contact with your Representatives. Get to know these people, because we'll need their support for lots of Aircraft and Airport Bills in the near future.

Let's get ready for a busy Session, we have lots of work ahead of us!

Remember, "Let's All Work Together."

"United We Stand, Divided We Fall."

Until Next Time!

Safe Flying!

Larry G. Harmon
Legislation Chairman
E-mail address: MPALHARMON@aol.com

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