The U.S. Congress has kicked off conference negotiations on the Highway Bill that contains the maligned Alexander Amendment. The amendment contains provisions that strip away control of national park airspace from the congressionally mandated FAA and gives the power to regulate airspace to the ill-equipped National Park Service.

Conferees have precious little time – approx. one month – to reach a compromise and present it to Congress in order to give members the time they need to consider and vote on the bill before the latest extension of transportation authority expires at the end of June. Members of the conference committee will have to work through six sets of issues including financing, highway safety, the Keystone Pipeline, and regulation of coal ash.

HAI urges you to contact your congressmen and tell them to oppose the Alexander amendment in any final surface transportation bill. Their contact information can be found at www.senate.gov and www.house.gov.