PUBLIC LAW 104-264—OCT. 9, 1996 110 STAT. 3229 (16) Without reforms in the areas of procurement, personnel, funding, and governance, the Administration will continue to experience delays and cost overruns in its major modernization programs and needed improvements in the performance of the air traffic management system will not occur. (17) All reforms should be designed to help the Administration become more responsive to the needs of its customers and maintain the highest standards of safety. SEC. 222. PURPOSES. 49 USC 106 note. The purposes of this title are— (1) to ensure that final action shall be taken on all notices of proposed rulemaking of the Administration within 18 months after the date of their publication; (2) to permit the Administration, with Congressional review, to establish a program to improve air traffic management system performance and to establish appropriate levels of cost accountability for air traffic management services provided by the Administration; (3) to establish a more autonomous and accountable Administration within the Department of Transportation; and (4) to make the Administration a more efficient and effective organization, able to meet the needs of a dynamic, growing industry, and to ensure the safety of the traveling public. SEC. 223. REGULATION OF CIVILIAN AIR TRANSPORTATION AND RELATED SERVICES BY THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION AND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPOR- TATION. (a) IN GENERAL. —Section 106 is amended— (1) by striking "The Administrator" in subsection (b) and inserting "Except as provided in subsection (f) or in other provisions of law, the Administrator"; and (2) in subsection (f)— (A) by striking "(f) The Secretary^' and inserting the following: "(f) AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY AND THE ADMINISTRATOR. — "(1) AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary"; (B) in subsection (f)(1), as so designated— (i) by moving the remednder of the text 2 ems to the right; (ii) by striking "The Secretary may not" and inserting "Neither the Secretary nor the Administrator ma}^"; and (iii) by striking "nor" and inserting "or"; and (C) by adding at the end the following: "(2) AUTHORITY OF THE ADMINISTRATOR. — The Administrator— "(A) is the final authority for carrying out all functions, powers, and duties of the Administration relating to— "(i) the appointment and employment of all officers and employees of the Administration (other than Presidential and political appointees); "(ii) the acquisition and maintenance of property and equipment of the Administration; "(iii) except as otherwise provided in paragraph (3), the promulgation of regulations, rules, orders,
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