104TH CONGRESS, 2nd Session HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPORT 104-

REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS (H.R. 3675)

The Committee on Appropriations submits the following report in explanation of the accompanying bill making appropriations for the Department of Transportation and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1997.

Loran-C Upgrades. - The Committee recommends $5,600,000 for upgrades to the Loran-C navigation system. Of this amount, $650,000 is for implementation of an automatic blink system (ABS). Last year, the appropriations conferees directed the FAA to expedite development of ABS. Despite this, FAA has not moved forward during fiscal year 1996 and this project. The Committee is disappointed the FAA has ignored this direction, and intends that such directions be followed. While the FAA’s position is that Loran-C and other navigation systems will be replaced ultimately by GPS technology, it is apparent by FAA’s inability to fully fund either the wide area or local area GPS augmentation programs in the fiscal year 1997 budget that GPS implementation has funding and schedule risks. In addition, the recent wide area contract termination raises additional risks that GPS development and implementation will see continued delays. For these reasons, the Committee believes it prudent to begin upgrading the existing loran-C network, and provide $5,600,000 for this purpose

The differing amount of the Loran-C upgrades appropriation between the House and Senate was resolved in conference to be $4,650,000. The final DOT Appropriations Bill H.R. 3675 was signed by President Clinton on September 30, 1996 and is now Public Law 104-205.