Senate Approves FY23 Spending Package; Bill Now Goes to the House for Final Passage

After several tense days of drama, the Senate  passed the final, $1.7 trillion FY23 omnibus spending package by a bipartisan vote of 68 to 29. The bill now goes to the House, which is expected to pass the measure tonight or tomorrow before current federal funding expires at midnight. 

As we noted in our earlier Airport Alert, the omnibus spending package includes positive news on a number of airport priorities, including $3.35 billion in 'regular' AIP funding and $558.6 million in supplemental AIP discretionary spending, of which approximately $283.6 million is reserved for earmarks. Combined with funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, there is nearly $8 billion in funding available to airports in FY23 for important projects. The spending bill also provides funding for the TSA LEO reimbursement program and TSA exit lane staffing as AAAE requested, rejecting the administration's proposal to shift the cost of exit lane staffing to airports. 

There was good news for contract tower airports as well. The omnibus spending package includes almost a $10 million increase for the FAA Contract Tower Program in FY23. Lawmakers also added the CONTRACT Act to the measure to help address staffing challenges at contract towers. This AAAE and USCTA-backed legislation will allow controllers who retire from federal service to work as controllers at contract tower airports without impacting their federal annuity supplement.

Thank you for your assistance in helping secure these positive results and stay tuned for one more Alert following House passage of the FY23 omnibus spending bill, the final step before the measure is sent to the President's desk.