Action Alert: Reach Out to Your Lawmakers on FAA Reauthorization Priorities
February 14, 2023
With both the Senate Commerce and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committees officially organized for the 118th Congress and the current FAA reauthorization bill set to expire in less than nine months, the committees have swiftly turned their attention towards drafting the upcoming FAA reauthorization bill. Committee leaders are already reaching out to their rank-and-file members for input, so it is important that we act quickly to share reauthorization priorities broadly and specific to your airport.
In January, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Sam Graves (R-MO) said he wants a "first version" of the bill done by July 1, although House Aviation Subcommittee Chair Garret Graves (R-LA) has recently said he could see that timeline being accelerated. And last week, Senate Commerce Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA) said that she is hoping for the committee to mark up its version of an FAA reauthorization bill in April.
Also in January, AAAE and ACI-NA shared their list of joint recommendations for the next FAA reauthorization bill with key committee leaders and their staff in the House and Senate. These recommendations provide a well-rounded framework of airport priorities for the next FAA bill, including: 1) increasing AIP funding, eliminating the outdated PFC cap, and expanding eligibility for both funding sources; 2) reducing federal red tape and streamlining regulations; 3) addressing noise and other environmental concerns; and 4) preserving and enhancing small community air service.
Request
AAAE staff have been working vigorously to advocate for our priorities on Capitol Hill. However, given the aggressive timelines that both committees are working under to draft an FAA bill, it is critical that airports reach out to their lawmakers as soon as possible. Please contact your lawmakers, educate them on our priorities for the next FAA reauthorization bill, and invite them to visit your airport to see first-hand how our joint recommendations would help your airport. Drafting talking points are below.
Committee Rosters
The rosters for the relevant House and Senate authorizing committees and subcommittees can be found using the links below. We are still waiting for the Senate Commerce Committee to release its subcommittee assignments, including for the Aviation Subcommittee. If you need help identifying the Member of Congress that represents your district, you can use this link.
Please keep in mind that the House and Senate authorizing committees have large numbers of new members, meaning our education efforts will be more important than ever. Even if your lawmakers do not serve on the authorizing committees directly responsible for drafting the FAA bill, it is still important that they hear from you and understand our priorities.
• House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
• House Aviation Subcommittee
• Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee
General Talking Points to Use with Lawmakers
• FAA reauthorization legislation is a key priority for our airport and our community to ensure that we are able to…
• It is critical that Congress pass a meaningful FAA bill on time before the current reauthorization expires at the end of September. Delays cause unnecessary and harmful disruptions that greatly hinder planning and investment.
• While travel demand has largely returned to pre-pandemic levels, the distribution of travel has changed. Many airports are still recovering from the effects of the pandemic, including air service cuts and workforce challenges.
• We are grateful for the support that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided airports; however, airports are still billions of dollars short on an annual basis between what airports need and what is available through existing federal funding and PFC collections.
• In addition to raising the outdated PFC cap, we urge you to increase AIP and supplemental discretionary funding to help airports build critical infrastructure projects. We also urge you to provide airports with more flexibility by allowing them to apply these funds to a larger array of projects.
• At my airport, we are eager to move forward on critical projects to….
• We also need the FAA to recognize that airports - as local entities - operate with the public interest at the forefront and do not need complicated or burdensome requirements to achieve necessary policy objectives. FAA needs to be a partner, not a hindrance to necessary investments.
With both the Senate Commerce and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committees officially organized for the 118th Congress and the current FAA reauthorization bill set to expire in less than nine months, the committees have swiftly turned their attention towards drafting the upcoming FAA reauthorization bill. Committee leaders are already reaching out to their rank-and-file members for input, so it is important that we act quickly to share reauthorization priorities broadly and specific to your airport.
In January, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Sam Graves (R-MO) said he wants a "first version" of the bill done by July 1, although House Aviation Subcommittee Chair Garret Graves (R-LA) has recently said he could see that timeline being accelerated. And last week, Senate Commerce Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA) said that she is hoping for the committee to mark up its version of an FAA reauthorization bill in April.
Also in January, AAAE and ACI-NA shared their list of joint recommendations for the next FAA reauthorization bill with key committee leaders and their staff in the House and Senate. These recommendations provide a well-rounded framework of airport priorities for the next FAA bill, including: 1) increasing AIP funding, eliminating the outdated PFC cap, and expanding eligibility for both funding sources; 2) reducing federal red tape and streamlining regulations; 3) addressing noise and other environmental concerns; and 4) preserving and enhancing small community air service.
Request
AAAE staff have been working vigorously to advocate for our priorities on Capitol Hill. However, given the aggressive timelines that both committees are working under to draft an FAA bill, it is critical that airports reach out to their lawmakers as soon as possible. Please contact your lawmakers, educate them on our priorities for the next FAA reauthorization bill, and invite them to visit your airport to see first-hand how our joint recommendations would help your airport. Drafting talking points are below.
Committee Rosters
The rosters for the relevant House and Senate authorizing committees and subcommittees can be found using the links below. We are still waiting for the Senate Commerce Committee to release its subcommittee assignments, including for the Aviation Subcommittee. If you need help identifying the Member of Congress that represents your district, you can use this link.
Please keep in mind that the House and Senate authorizing committees have large numbers of new members, meaning our education efforts will be more important than ever. Even if your lawmakers do not serve on the authorizing committees directly responsible for drafting the FAA bill, it is still important that they hear from you and understand our priorities.
• House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
• House Aviation Subcommittee
• Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee
General Talking Points to Use with Lawmakers
• FAA reauthorization legislation is a key priority for our airport and our community to ensure that we are able to…
• It is critical that Congress pass a meaningful FAA bill on time before the current reauthorization expires at the end of September. Delays cause unnecessary and harmful disruptions that greatly hinder planning and investment.
• While travel demand has largely returned to pre-pandemic levels, the distribution of travel has changed. Many airports are still recovering from the effects of the pandemic, including air service cuts and workforce challenges.
• We are grateful for the support that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided airports; however, airports are still billions of dollars short on an annual basis between what airports need and what is available through existing federal funding and PFC collections.
• In addition to raising the outdated PFC cap, we urge you to increase AIP and supplemental discretionary funding to help airports build critical infrastructure projects. We also urge you to provide airports with more flexibility by allowing them to apply these funds to a larger array of projects.
• At my airport, we are eager to move forward on critical projects to….
• We also need the FAA to recognize that airports - as local entities - operate with the public interest at the forefront and do not need complicated or burdensome requirements to achieve necessary policy objectives. FAA needs to be a partner, not a hindrance to necessary investments.
