The trade group for the nation's largest airlines spent $1.1 million in the first quarter to lobby on aviation funding and other issues, according to a disclosure form.

The Air Transport Association of America lobbied on legislation dealing with funding for the Federal Aviation Administration, efforts to reduce the industry's greenhouse gas emissions, a passenger's bill of rights, cargo security and other issues, according to the form posted online April 17 by the House clerk's office.

Besides Congress, the association lobbied the departments of Transportation, Homeland Security and others in the first three months of the year. The ATA spent more than $7.1 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 is working on similar legislation.

The state of New York passed an air travelers' bill of rights designed to deal with give consumers some relief and recourse from nightmarish conditions, like being stuck for hours in planes on the tarmac with limited food and water. But that bill was struck down in March when an appeals court sided with industry arguments that said airlines must be regulated by the federal government, not individual states. Still, similar provisions are in the House bill.

Among those registered to lobby for the ATA are: Clint Fisher, formerly of the House Homeland Security Committee; Sharon Pinkerton, who worked for Rep. John Mica, R-Fla.; and Ryan Stroschein, who worked for former Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D.