The Week Ahead in Aviation: FY 2021 Appropriations Hearings on Tap After Congressional Recess

 

Congress is out of session next week for Presidents' Day. Lawmakers return to Washington the following week and will hold numerous hearings on various aspects of the administration's FY 2021 budget proposal, which was released earlier this week.

 

As we reported, the Trump Administration on Monday proposed cuts to non-defense spending as part of its FY 2021 budget request. But the budget blueprint was quickly met with a chilly reception from Democratic and Republican leaders on Capitol Hill. Senate Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi (R-WY) said his committee will not hold a hearing on the budget, which the Chairman warned would turn into a "diatribe against the president."

 

The budget request again seeks to eliminate funding for the TSA law enforcement officer (LEO) reimbursement program and agency staffing of exit lanes, proposals Congress has consistently rejected in the past. The administration is also calling to end additional AIP supplemental funding that Congress has provided in recent years.

 

Considering the fact that AIP is being targeted by the administration and the tight funding constraints that lawmakers will face in the FY 2021 appropriations process, it is critical that airports urge their elected officials to support another round of supplemental AIP funding in the FY 2021 transportation appropriations bill. Please contact your lawmakers as soon as possible and urge them to request supplemental AIP funding and funding for other airport priorities when they submit their request letters to the Appropriations Committees.

 

There is a comprehensive summary of the DOT/FAA and DHS/TSA/CBP portions of the budget proposal in our Airport Alert. Stay tuned for updates and calls to action as the FY 2021 appropriations process moves forward in the coming weeks and months.

 

The Government Accountability Office late yesterday released another report on airport infrastructure funding and financing. The 82-page report indicates that airports received an average of $14 billion annually for capital projects between Fiscal Years 2013 and 2017.

 

GAO also estimates that the average annual infrastructure needs for airports will be approximately $22 billion between FY 2019 and FY 2023, leaving a significant funding gap. The report points out that airport infrastructure needs have increased by 19 percent from its previous estimate.

 

The report indicates that the infrastructure funding gap is having an adverse impact on airports. According to GAO, "some airport officials stated that to address funding challenges, they have deferred some needed infrastructure investments or completed projects in phases, steps that increased construction times and costs."

 

GAO also examined funding and financing of foreign airports. The report indicates that the foreign airports it reviewed charge passengers between $9.65 in Helsinki to $58.58 at Heathrow. Meanwhile, airports in the United States are urging Congress to raise the federal cap on local Passenger Facility Charges, which has been stuck at $4.50 since 2000.

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) and Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Garret Graves (R-LA) today introduced H.R. 5912, the Expedited Delivery of Airport Infrastructure Act of 2020.

The bill would allow airports to provide incentive payments to contractors for early completion of AIP-funded projects. AAAE and ACI-NA initially urged lawmakers to consider this approach during consideration of the FAA reauthorization bill, which Congress passed in late 2018, as a way to help airports reduce the time it takes to complete their infrastructure projects.

 

 

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. In addition, the following Capitol Hill leaders will also speak to attendees:

 

 

House Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee Ranking Member Debbie Lesko (R-AZ) and Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL) this week introduced the Trusted Traveler REAL ID Relief Act of 2020 (H.R. 5827).

 

Among other things, the bill would permit airline travelers in the United States to use TSA PreCheck as an alternative to REAL ID. It would also direct TSA to conduct REAL ID implementation exercises and other contingency plans at airports if requested prior to the October 1 deadline.

 

"AAAE appreciates this effort to provide creative ways to address the challenges posed by the October 1 REAL ID enforcement deadline," AAAE President and CEO Todd Hauptli said of the legislation. "We look forward to working with Congress, the administration, and our industry partners to advance solutions that ensure the traveling public is not grounded on October 1."

 

There is more information on the bill in our Airport Alert.

 

Please contact Adam if you have any questions or would like additional information. Have a great Presidents' Day weekend.