Airport Alert: House Appropriations Committee Unveils FY22 DOT Spending Bill
July 11, 2021
The House Appropriations Committee late today released a Fiscal Year 2022 spending bill for the Departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies that proposes $3.35 billion for AIP, an additional $400 million for supplemental discretionary grants, and a $5.2 million increase for the FAA Contract Tower Program.
The bill would provide a total of $105.7 billion for DOT next year – $19 billion above the current funding level and $18.7 billion more than the administration's request. House lawmakers are also proposing to increase FAA funding by almost $900 million in FY22. House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) commented on the proposed funding increases.
"For far too long, our nation's crumbling infrastructure has held America back," Chair DeLauro said. "With this bill's major new investments in transportation, including transit and rail, more than 125,000 new housing vouchers, and the modernization of public housing, we have made a long overdue investment in the future of America's working families."
According to a committee press release, the bill focuses on reducing emissions and increasing resiliency. Committee Democrats say the bill would create "tens of thousands of good-paying American jobs by rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure with significant investments in airports, highways, transit, passenger rail, and port systems."
While the FY22 funding process is moving forward on the House side, a bipartisan group of Senators and the White House are trying to hash out an agreement on a broader five-year infrastructure package consistent with the bipartisan infrastructure framework. That plan proposes $25 billion in new spending for aviation and is expected to include an additional $20 billion for AIP and terminal projects and another $5 billion for FAA facilities and equipment.
Funding for FAA Programs
FAA: Overall, the House bill includes $18.9 billion for the FAA – $896 million more than the current funding level.
Facilities and Equipment: The bill proposes more than $3.4 billion for FAA facilities and equipment, including NextGen programs.
Operations: The measure proposes more than $11.4 billion for FAA operations – the same amount that the administration requested.
Research, Engineering, and Development: It includes $260.5 million for research, engineering, and development – $2 million more than the administration requested.
Airport Improvement Program
Traditional Airport Improvement Program Funding: The House bill includes $3.35 billion for the traditional AIP account in FY22 – the same as the current funding level. Of that amount, approximately $127.2 million would go toward administration expenses and $15 million for the Airport Cooperative Research Program. Approximately $41 million would go toward the Airport Technology Research and $10 million for the Small Community Air Service Development Program.
Supplemental Airport Improvement Program Funding: The House bill includes an additional $400 million in supplemental AIP discretionary grants – the same as the current level. Of that amount, approximately $80 million would be reserved for earmarks, which are officially known as "Community Project Funding" requests. More information on the member requests may be viewed here. (Senate earmark requests listed by Member may be viewed here.)
Continued EDS Prohibition: The bill continues the prohibition against the use of AIP funds for "the replacement of baggage conveyor systems, reconfiguration of terminal baggage areas, or other airport improvements that are necessary to install bulk explosive detection systems."
Local Match: The bill maintains a narrow provision that allows small airports to pay the lower 5 percent match for any unfinished phased projects that were underway prior to the passage of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012.
Small Community Programs
Contract Towers: The House bill includes $178 million in dedicated funding for the Contract Tower and Contract Tower Cost Share Programs – $5.2 million more than the current level. This is the same amount that AAAE and the U.S. Contract Tower Association requested. That increase would fund all 258 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 measure includes $247.7 million in discretionary funding for the Essential Air Service Program. Coupled with an estimated $116 million from overflight fees, the overall funding level for EAS would rise to approximately $363.7 million in FY22. That is same as the administration's budget request and $67.7 million more than the current level. It would also waive the 15-passenger seat requirement.
Small Community Air Service Development: The House bill includes $10 million for the Small Community Air Service Development Program. This is the same amount that Congress approved for the program in FY20 and $10 million more than the administration requested.
Miscellaneous
Cost Free Space: It includes 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 House 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
What's Next?
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies is scheduled to mark up the legislation tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. The full committee is expected to consider the measure later this week.
