Airport Alert: Rules Committee Prepares to Consider FAA Bill
July 14, 2023
The House Rule Committee is scheduled to begin considering the FAA reauthorization bill on July 17, and lawmakers have filed hundreds of amendments including controversial proposals to cut AIP funding and limit airport control over ramp space that transient GA pilots want to use for little to no cost.
House Rules Committee is Next
The Rules Committee consideration opens on July 17 at 4:00 p.m. After the Committee completes its action, leaders are expected to bring the FAA bill to the House floor with final passage likely later in the week. However, timing is uncertain especially since lawmakers have filed 340 amendments so far. See some of the highlights in the list below, which include amendments we oppose.
Breakthrough in the Senate?
We may see movement in the Senate, too. There are increasing signs lawmakers in the upper chamber are close to reaching a deal on their version of the FAA bill. As we previously reported, Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA) was forced to pull the legislation before a scheduled markup over a heated dispute regarding the 1,500-hour rule.
The contours of a possible agreement may involve including language to raise the mandatory retirement age for commercial airline pilots from 65 to 67 in exchange for dropping the controversial proposal to create another pathway for the 1,500-hour training requirement. If committee leaders can finalize a deal soon, it is possible that the Commerce Committee could mark up its version of the FAA bill as early as next week.
Amendments to H.R. 3935,
the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act
Defense: Transient Parking, Ground Transportation, and Other Proposals
Obernolte-Cartwright/Transient Parking (74): Reps. Jay Obernolte (R-CA) and Matt Cartwright (D-PA) have filed an amendment that would require all public use airports to provide transient aircraft parking for GA pilots who don't want to use FBO services. We urge airports to continue to weigh in with their lawmakers and ask them to reject the AOPA-backed proposal.
More information on the amendment and draft talking points may be viewed here. A copy of a letter AAAE, ACI-NA and other aviation stakeholders to sent to the House Rules Committee may be viewed here.
Perry/AIP Funding (333): Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) has an amendment that would reduce AIP funding from the proposed $4 billion to $3.8 billion annually. We strongly oppose that amendment.
Garcia/Good Jobs for Good Airports Act (58): Rep. Jesus Garcia (D-IL) filed an amendment that would add the Good Jobs for Good Airports Act to the bill. The labor-backed bill initially called for airports to police airlines and concessionaries and ensure that they pay their service workers certain wages and benefits. It also called for new grant assurances on AIP, PFCh, and BIL money. After strong objections from AAAE and ACI-NA, SEIU and their allies on the Hill agreed to take airports out of the middle and focus directly on airlines and concessionaries instead.
Boyle/Ground Transportation (306): Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA) has an amendment that would require commercial ground transportation provider at airports to 'be subject to the same rates, fees, rentals, and other charges as are uniformly applicable to all other such users.
Landsman/Ground Transportation (232): Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH) also filed an amendment that would require ground transportation providers at airports to 'be subject to the same rates, fees, etc.' The proposal would also place the burden of proof on airports to show that fees are legitimate and 'proportionate to the impact the physical use has on airport facilities.' We are urging lawmakers to reject both ground transportation amendments.
Panetta/Ground-Based Noise (50): Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) has an amendment that calls for 'standards and remedies related to ground-based noise (GBN) due to the fact that as an airplane leaves from an airport, its takeoff generates significant amounts of ground-based low"
