BILL REQ. #:  H-3270.1 

     TO THE HONORABLE BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND TO THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, Congress enacted Vision 100 - the Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act in 2003 and directed the secretary of transportation to establish the joint planning and development office within the federal aviation administration to plan and coordinate the transition to NextGen, the next generation air transportation system; and
     WHEREAS, To prepare for forecasted air traffic growth, the federal aviation administration, including the joint planning and development office and air traffic organization is currently planning for and implementing NextGen in partnership with other federal agencies and the aviation industry; and
     WHEREAS, The United States air transportation system presently handles about 50,000 flights over a twenty-four hour period and by 2025, air traffic is projected to increase to about 80,000 flights every twenty-four hours; and
     WHEREAS, The joint planning and development office has released plans for the midterm implementation of NextGen capabilities from 2012 through 2018; and
     WHEREAS, The federal aviation administration has requested 657 million dollars of funding in fiscal years 2010 through 2013 for NextGen research; and
     WHEREAS, The general accounting office has identified issues related to the usefulness of NextGen planning documents and the federal aviation administration's organization structure to manage the transition to NextGen; and
     WHEREAS, Implementation of NextGen capabilities depends in part on airlines acquiring existing and new capabilities, and some airline operators have already acquired some of the technology to operate with NextGen capabilities; and
     WHEREAS, Quicker implementation of NextGen capabilities will improve the safety and efficiency of air travel and lead to fuel savings and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions;
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that Congress and the President will work to expedite implementation of NextGen capabilities to modernize and improve the nation's air transportation system.
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States, the Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.