CAA: Legislative Update, "House Transportation Appropriations Passes FY02 Spending Bill"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

Tuesday, June 12, 2001

House Transportation Appropriations Passes FY02 Spending Bill
AAAE/ACI-NA


The House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee has just completed
action on its version of the 2002 Department of Transportation spending
bill. Airports fared extremely well. Below is the list of AAAE/ACI-NA FY02
DOT Bill Priorities, followed by a brief description of how airports fared
for each priority.

Full Funding of $3.3 billion for the Airport Improvement Program
AIP was fully funded at $3.3 billion. The Subcommittee is also exploring the
possibility of adding an additional $30 million above the fully funded
authorization level, but they are waiting to hear from the Congressional
Budget Office on a "scoring" issue.

Full Funding of $2.914 billion for the FAA Facilities and Equipment Account
F&E was fully funded at $2.914 billion.

Funding for the Small Community Air Service Development Pilot Program
The Subcommittee approved $10 million for the Small Community Air Service
Development Pilot Program, which is aimed at helping smaller communities
attract air service. While clearly not all we had hoped for ($27.5 million
authorized), it is significant that the Subcommittee has agreed to put
funding into this program. It sets us up well for conference with the
Senate, where we are stronger on this provision. We are actively working to
gain Senate support for full funding.

Funding for the Essential Air Service Program
The Subcommittee did not endorse the Administration's proposal to tighten
the criteria for the Essential Air Service program that would have
eliminated subsidies for 18 communities. Instead the Subcommittee approved
an additional $13 million for Essential Air Service - this on top of the $50
million that is currently authorized for the program.

FAA Use of Space in Airport-Owned Facilities
The same language that was included in last year's appropriations bill
prohibiting the FAA from moving forward on implementing a new policy on
cost-free space was again extended for FY02. Last year, it was the Senate
that put the provision in, not the House. Our chances of keeping it in the
final bill is vastly improved for the reason that the House included it this
year.

Airport funding of Project -Specific Staff or Consultants
This component of our EASE proposal, allowing airports to pay for FAA
personnel for the review and approval of runway projects, was also included
in the spending bill today.

FAA Operations
FAA Operations was funded at $6.9 billion.

Full Funding for the Contract Tower Program
The Sub approved 70 for the Contract Tower Program and $6 million for the
cost-sharing program as we requested.

Funding for Aviation-Related Research and Development
The Subcommittee appropriated $191 million for research and development.

Other Information:
The Subcommittee, prior to the mark-up today, attempted to include a
provision allowing for airline antitrust immunity in inclement weather.
However, the Judiciary Committee opposed the provision and it was not
included in the bill.

Summary

This was an excellent outcome for airports, with full funding for AIP,
funding for Small Community Air Service Development and general provisions
on cost-free space and the allowance of airports to pay FAA personnel. We
couldn't have asked for much more.

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http://www.californiaaviation.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?conf=DCConfID5

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