Airport Alert: House Passes Coronavirus Relief Bill; Measure Includes $8 Billion for Airports, Raising Total to $20 Billion
March 10, 2021
The House of Representatives has just approved the revised American Rescue Plan – a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package that retains $8 billion for airports and concessionaires. Today's action clears the way for the President to sign the bill into law. Today's vote marks a significant victory for Democratic leaders, who worked to finalize the relief package through the expedited "reconciliation" process before March 14 when unemployment benefits are set to expire. The underlying bill includes other Democratic priorities such as $1,400 stimulus checks and funding for vaccine distribution.
On the aviation front, the bill includes another $8 billion for airports impacted by the pandemic and $15 billion to extend the Payroll Support Program. The American Rescue Plan will raise the total amount of coronavirus relief funding that Congress has provided to airports and concessionaires in the past year to $20 billion.
The Long Journey of the Past Year…
With passage today of the American Rescue Plan and the $8 billion designated for airports and concessionaires, Congress has now approved a total of $20 billion for airports and our partners over the past 12 months through three separate pieces of major legislation. The fact that we have been able to garner such significant attention and support from Washington is a credit to the work that we – AAAE, ACI-NA, individual airports, and our partners – have undertaken collectively and collaboratively to educate and engage proactively with policymakers. We are grateful for your assistance in answering our many calls to action, your engagement through our bi-weekly and now weekly calls, and your continued support of the AAAE Federal Affairs Membership. Each has been critical along the way.
From the earliest days of the pandemic just over a year ago, we have consistently and aggressively made the case for federal support for airports and the entire aviation ecosystem. AAAE President and CEO Todd Hauptli at an important hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee last spring testified about the urgency of additional support for airports, airlines, and other parts of the aviation ecosystem — general aviation airports, business aviation, concessionaires, and other airport partners significantly impacted by the crisis. "I recognize that it isn't popular to be asking for more help, but the scale and scope of this crisis requires it, and we have to get past the ‘sticker shock' and get to ‘yes'" he argued.
He added in an editorial that the decisions that congressional leaders made on relief efforts would have a profound impact on the future of the aviation system and its ability to move forward through one of the most challenging times in its history. "Aviation not only allows for the movement of people and goods across the country and around the planet, it is also the oxygen that fuels our economy, and we need a healthy industry in order to return to a healthy economy," he wrote.
Earlier this month, AAAE Federal Affairs Chair Lance Lyttle, in testimony before the House Aviation Subcommittee, further noted the importance of continued federal assistance for airports and our industry partners. He expressed optimism that with the support, continued vaccination efforts, and the work of dedicated employees throughout the aviation system, better days are ahead.
While we can briefly stop to reflect on the past year and the progress we have made to gain help from Washington to weather the storm of the coronavirus pandemic, we have more work before us in the days and weeks ahead on critical priorities. With passage of the relief package, Washington will now turn its attention to an infrastructure package and debates on the future of airport infrastructure funding. We have several key leaders in the Senate and House who will play key roles in the upcoming infrastructure debates – Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Republican Roger Wicker (R-MS), House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR), and House Aviation Subcommittee Chair Rick Larsen (D-WA) – scheduled to speak at the upcoming March 18 AAAE, ACI-NA Virtual Legislative Conference. All airport members of AAAE and ACI-NA are encouraged to participate.
Thank you again for your help and support over the past, difficult year.
The House of Representatives has just approved the revised American Rescue Plan – a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package that retains $8 billion for airports and concessionaires. Today's action clears the way for the President to sign the bill into law. Today's vote marks a significant victory for Democratic leaders, who worked to finalize the relief package through the expedited "reconciliation" process before March 14 when unemployment benefits are set to expire. The underlying bill includes other Democratic priorities such as $1,400 stimulus checks and funding for vaccine distribution.
On the aviation front, the bill includes another $8 billion for airports impacted by the pandemic and $15 billion to extend the Payroll Support Program. The American Rescue Plan will raise the total amount of coronavirus relief funding that Congress has provided to airports and concessionaires in the past year to $20 billion.
The Long Journey of the Past Year…
With passage today of the American Rescue Plan and the $8 billion designated for airports and concessionaires, Congress has now approved a total of $20 billion for airports and our partners over the past 12 months through three separate pieces of major legislation. The fact that we have been able to garner such significant attention and support from Washington is a credit to the work that we – AAAE, ACI-NA, individual airports, and our partners – have undertaken collectively and collaboratively to educate and engage proactively with policymakers. We are grateful for your assistance in answering our many calls to action, your engagement through our bi-weekly and now weekly calls, and your continued support of the AAAE Federal Affairs Membership. Each has been critical along the way.
From the earliest days of the pandemic just over a year ago, we have consistently and aggressively made the case for federal support for airports and the entire aviation ecosystem. AAAE President and CEO Todd Hauptli at an important hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee last spring testified about the urgency of additional support for airports, airlines, and other parts of the aviation ecosystem — general aviation airports, business aviation, concessionaires, and other airport partners significantly impacted by the crisis. "I recognize that it isn't popular to be asking for more help, but the scale and scope of this crisis requires it, and we have to get past the ‘sticker shock' and get to ‘yes'" he argued.
He added in an editorial that the decisions that congressional leaders made on relief efforts would have a profound impact on the future of the aviation system and its ability to move forward through one of the most challenging times in its history. "Aviation not only allows for the movement of people and goods across the country and around the planet, it is also the oxygen that fuels our economy, and we need a healthy industry in order to return to a healthy economy," he wrote.
Earlier this month, AAAE Federal Affairs Chair Lance Lyttle, in testimony before the House Aviation Subcommittee, further noted the importance of continued federal assistance for airports and our industry partners. He expressed optimism that with the support, continued vaccination efforts, and the work of dedicated employees throughout the aviation system, better days are ahead.
While we can briefly stop to reflect on the past year and the progress we have made to gain help from Washington to weather the storm of the coronavirus pandemic, we have more work before us in the days and weeks ahead on critical priorities. With passage of the relief package, Washington will now turn its attention to an infrastructure package and debates on the future of airport infrastructure funding. We have several key leaders in the Senate and House who will play key roles in the upcoming infrastructure debates – Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Republican Roger Wicker (R-MS), House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR), and House Aviation Subcommittee Chair Rick Larsen (D-WA) – scheduled to speak at the upcoming March 18 AAAE, ACI-NA Virtual Legislative Conference. All airport members of AAAE and ACI-NA are encouraged to participate.
Thank you again for your help and support over the past, difficult year.
