The Week Ahead in Aviation: White House to Release FY 2021 Budget Proposal
February 7, 2020
The FY 2021 appropriations process kicks off in earnest on Capitol Hill on Monday when the Administration releases its budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins on October 1. Committees on both sides of the Capitol will soon begin to hold hearings on various aspects of the budget request.
The Administration's budget blueprint is only the first step in what will likely be a long and drawn-out FY 2021 appropriations process due to continued friction between Congress and the White House and election-year politics.
We will be keeping a close eye on how the budget proposal addresses both regular and supplemental AIP funding; TSA programs for law enforcement officer reimbursements, staffing of exit lanes, and reimbursements for janitorial services at screening checkpoints; and additional topics important to airports.
We will share a comprehensive summary of the aviation and security aspects of the budget request when the Administration releases it next week.
Washington Update Webinar & AAAE/ACI-NA Legislative Conference
AAAE Federal Affairs members are invited to participate in a webinar on Thursday, February 13, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern for an update on the Administration's budget proposal, recent efforts regarding the PFC and an infrastructure package, and other key issues. Please email Maribeth Sarnecki for more information.
Additionally, we hope you can join us in Washington on March 5-6 for the AAAE/ACI-NA Washington Legislative Conference. FAA Administrator Steve Dickson will deliver a keynote luncheon address and key House and Senate leaders will provide timely updates to attendees.
Airport Executives Call for PFC Increase
AAAE and airports around the country are continuing to press Congress to raise the federal cap on local Passenger Facility Charges. As we outlined in a Hearing Report this week, two airport executives testifying at a House subcommittee hearing urged lawmakers to increase the cap and take other steps to help airports improve the movement of passengers and cargo at their facilities.
Greg Richardson, Deputy General Manager and CFO of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, noted that rising passenger numbers underscore the need for increased investment in airport infrastructure. "PFCs are a user fee, directly benefiting the passengers and their experience," Richardson told lawmakers in his opening statement.
Curtis Robinhold, Executive Director of the Port of Portland, said that Portland International Airport's work to improve sustainability and climate resilience would benefit from raising the PFC cap. The House Democrats' Moving Forward infrastructure principles released last week also focused on green initiatives and ways to increase resiliency. "An increase in the PFC, a long-standing priority for every U.S. airport, is included in the Moving Forward package and would absolutely help," Robinhold said.
DHS Trusted Traveler Changes Discussed at Biometrics Hearing
The House Homeland Security Committee held a hearing this week on DHS's use of facial recognition and other forms of biometrics, but the session also included discussions of the DHS announcement that New York state residents are no longer eligible to apply for or renew their enrollment in trusted traveler programs, such as Global Entry.
The DHS announcement came in response to New York state implementing the Driver's License Access and Privacy Act (aka the Green Light Law), which prohibits the Department of Motor Vehicles from sharing information with DHS.
AAAE has confirmed that this decision does not impact TSA PreCheck applications. Those New York residents enrolled in Global Entry will continue to receive their full trusted traveler benefits, including PreCheck, until their Global Entry expires. There is more information on the hearing and the DHS announcement about trusted traveler programs in our Hearing Report.
Please contact Adam if you have any questions or would like additional information. Have a great weekend.
The FY 2021 appropriations process kicks off in earnest on Capitol Hill on Monday when the Administration releases its budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins on October 1. Committees on both sides of the Capitol will soon begin to hold hearings on various aspects of the budget request.
The Administration's budget blueprint is only the first step in what will likely be a long and drawn-out FY 2021 appropriations process due to continued friction between Congress and the White House and election-year politics.
We will be keeping a close eye on how the budget proposal addresses both regular and supplemental AIP funding; TSA programs for law enforcement officer reimbursements, staffing of exit lanes, and reimbursements for janitorial services at screening checkpoints; and additional topics important to airports.
We will share a comprehensive summary of the aviation and security aspects of the budget request when the Administration releases it next week.
Washington Update Webinar & AAAE/ACI-NA Legislative Conference
AAAE Federal Affairs members are invited to participate in a webinar on Thursday, February 13, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern for an update on the Administration's budget proposal, recent efforts regarding the PFC and an infrastructure package, and other key issues. Please email Maribeth Sarnecki for more information.
Additionally, we hope you can join us in Washington on March 5-6 for the AAAE/ACI-NA Washington Legislative Conference. FAA Administrator Steve Dickson will deliver a keynote luncheon address and key House and Senate leaders will provide timely updates to attendees.
Airport Executives Call for PFC Increase
AAAE and airports around the country are continuing to press Congress to raise the federal cap on local Passenger Facility Charges. As we outlined in a Hearing Report this week, two airport executives testifying at a House subcommittee hearing urged lawmakers to increase the cap and take other steps to help airports improve the movement of passengers and cargo at their facilities.
Greg Richardson, Deputy General Manager and CFO of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, noted that rising passenger numbers underscore the need for increased investment in airport infrastructure. "PFCs are a user fee, directly benefiting the passengers and their experience," Richardson told lawmakers in his opening statement.
Curtis Robinhold, Executive Director of the Port of Portland, said that Portland International Airport's work to improve sustainability and climate resilience would benefit from raising the PFC cap. The House Democrats' Moving Forward infrastructure principles released last week also focused on green initiatives and ways to increase resiliency. "An increase in the PFC, a long-standing priority for every U.S. airport, is included in the Moving Forward package and would absolutely help," Robinhold said.
DHS Trusted Traveler Changes Discussed at Biometrics Hearing
The House Homeland Security Committee held a hearing this week on DHS's use of facial recognition and other forms of biometrics, but the session also included discussions of the DHS announcement that New York state residents are no longer eligible to apply for or renew their enrollment in trusted traveler programs, such as Global Entry.
The DHS announcement came in response to New York state implementing the Driver's License Access and Privacy Act (aka the Green Light Law), which prohibits the Department of Motor Vehicles from sharing information with DHS.
AAAE has confirmed that this decision does not impact TSA PreCheck applications. Those New York residents enrolled in Global Entry will continue to receive their full trusted traveler benefits, including PreCheck, until their Global Entry expires. There is more information on the hearing and the DHS announcement about trusted traveler programs in our Hearing Report.
Please contact Adam if you have any questions or would like additional information. Have a great weekend.
