Airport Alert: House Appropriations Subcommittee Clears FY23 DOT/FAA Spending Bill

June 23, 2022

The House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee quickly approved a Fiscal Year 2023 spending bill for the Department of Transportation that proposes $3.35 billion for traditional AIP grants, $272.6 million for supplemental discretionary AIP grants and earmarks, and a $10 million increase for the FAA Contract Tower Program.
 
Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) said the FY23 DOT spending measure builds on the success of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. She said it also includes nearly 2,000 requests from both sides of the aisle 'that will make our communities stronger and our infrastructure safer.' 
 
Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) noted that he supports some innovative ideas and investments in the bill. But he said he couldn't support the measure at its current spending levels, which he called 'excessive.'
 
'As everybody knows, inflation is at a 40-year high, and families are hurting,' Diaz-Balart said. 'They are struggling, and contrary to many talking points often used by the majority, we cannot address inflation by spending more money.' 
 
Panel members refrained from offering amendments during today's session. We expect lawmakers will propose changes to the bill when the full committee considers the measure next week.
 
Airport-Related Highlights
 
AIP Funding: The House bill proposes $3.35 billion for the traditional AIP account in FY23 “ the same as the current funding level. Of that amount, the bill designates approximately $137.4 million for administration expenses, $15 million for the Airport Cooperative Research Program, slightly more than $40.8 million for Airport Technology Research, and $10 million for the Small Community Air Service Development Program. 
 
Supplemental AIP Funding:
The draft bill includes an additional $272.6 million in supplemental AIP discretionary grants “ approximately $281.6 million less than the amount Congress approved in FY22. 
 
Earmarks: Approximately $172.6 million of the supplemental funding would be reserved for Congressional earmarks, which are officially known as 'Community Project Funding' requests. That is $106.6 million less than the FY22 enacted level. The airport projects and other earmarks funded in the bill may be viewed here
    
Contract Towers:
The measure includes $187.8 million in dedicated funding for the Contract Tower and Contract Tower Cost Share Programs “ almost $10 million more than the current level. That increase would fund all 260 contract towers currently in the program and allow the FAA to add other airports to the program during the next fiscal year. 
 
Essential Air Service:
The House bill includes $386.7 million in discretionary funding for the Essential Air Service Program. Coupled with an estimated $81.3 million from overflight fees, the overall funding level for EAS would rise to $450 million in FY23 “ the same as the administration's budget request. 
 
Small Community Air Service Development:
It also includes $10 million for the Small Community Air Service Development Program. This is the same amount that Congress approved for the program in FY22 and $10 million more than the administration requested.  
 
Cost Free Space:
The House bill retains a AAAE-backed proposal that would continue to prohibit the FAA from requiring airports to provide space free of charge in airport-owned buildings. 
 
Airport Cooperative Research Program:
As mentioned above, the draft bill includes $15 million in AIP funding for the Airport Cooperative Research Program. 
 
Contract Weather Observers:
The bill would continue to block the FAA from eliminating the Contact Weather Observers program at any airport.  

Additional Info
 
• The House Appropriations Committee press release may be viewed here
• The bill may be viewed here

What's Next?
 
The full committee is planning to consider the measure next Thursday.