WASHINGTON (AP) -- US Airways Group spent nearly $429,000 in the first quarter to lobby on federal aviation funding and other issues, according to a disclosure form.
The airline lobbied on legislation dealing with funding for the Federal Aviation Administration, homeland security matters, insurance issues and more, according to the form posted online April 21 by the House clerk's office.
Tempe, Ariz.-based US Airways spent more than $1.1 million to lobby the federal government in 2007.
The general aviation industry and commercial airlines disagree over how much each should have to pay for upgrading the nation's air traffic control system and other aviation programs. Congress has approved a temporary measure to continue FAA funding through June, but the larger issue of reauthorizing the agency is unresolved.
The House passed a bill in September that would have increased the jet fuel tax for noncommercial planes, the aviation gasoline tax and the cap on fees airports charge passengers for capital improvements. Commercial airlines and the Bush administration say the bill does not fairly link fees to system use, but the aircraft owners' association and other general aviation groups oppose user fees.
The Senate was working on similar legislation, but debate fizzled out May 6 after most Republicans said they were barred from freely offering amendments and blocked an effort to move it forward -- a vote that could doom action on the bill this year.
Besides Congress, US Airways lobbied the departments of Homeland Security and Transportation in the first three months of the year.
