The Latest From Washington
Airport Affairs
Airport Alert: Senate Republicans Unveil Infrastructure Roadmap in Latest Back and Forth with White House
Senate Republicans released their latest offer in the ongoing bipartisan negotiations on infrastructure.
05/27/2021
Airport Affairs
Airport Alert: Senate Committee Approves 5-Year Surface Transportation Bill
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee unanimously approved a 5-year surface transportation bill that proposes to open the door for airports to use federal loans and loan guarantees for a wider variety of infrastructure projects.
05/26/2021
Regulatory Affairs
Regulatory Alert: FAA Downgrades Safety Rating for Mexico's Civil Aviation Authority
FAA announced that Mexico’s civil aviation authority, Agencia Federal de Aviacion Civil (AFAC), does not meet the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) minimum safety standards and, therefore, Mexico’s safety rating has been downgraded..
05/25/2021
Airport Affairs
Airport Alert: Biden-Harris Team Releases Its Counterproposal for Infrastructure Negotiations
As bipartisan negotiations between the White House and Senate Republicans close in on the Memorial Day deadline set by President Biden, the Biden-Harris team released its counterproposal to the $568 billion Republican framework for infrastructure.
05/21/2021
Airport Affairs
Airport Alert: Lawmakers Propose to Expand TIFIA For Airports, Reinstate Bond Options to Help Finance Infrastructure
Lawmakers introduced bipartisan legislation that would expand TIFIA for more airport-related projects. Meanwhile, Republicans and Democrats are exploring other financing options that could help airports build their infrastructure projects.
05/20/2021
Airport Affairs
Airport Alert: Bill to Expand Deployment of Sustainable Aviation Fuel Introduced in the House
Reps. Brad Schneider (D-IL), Dan Kildee (D-MI) and Julia Brownley (D-CA) today introduced legislation that seeks to reduce carbon emissions in the aviation sector by increasing the production and uptake of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), while...
05/20/2021
Airport Affairs
Airport Alert: TSA and DOT Issue Joint Statement on Continued Mask Mandate for Transportation
CDC, TSA and DOT issued a joint statement to clarify that mask requirements remain in place for airports, air carriers, and surface transportation.
05/14/2021
Regulatory Affairs
Regulatory Alert: DOT Announces $898.9 Million in AIP Grants for 447 Airports
DOT announced the award of $898.9 million in airport infrastructure and safety grants as part of the fiscal year (FY) 2021 Airport Improvement Program (AIP).
05/13/2021
Airport Affairs
Airport Alert: Senate Committee Advances COVID-Related and Advanced Air Mobility Legislation
The Senate Commerce Committee met to consider several bills today including two COVID-related bills and one AAM bill. All three bills were favorably reported out of Committee by voice vote and will now advance to the full Senate for...
05/12/2021
Regulatory Affairs
Regulatory Alert: FAA Solicits Pre-Applications for Airport Environmental Mitigation Pilot Program
FAA released a notice soliciting pre-applications from eligible airports to participate in the agency’s “Airport Environmental Mitigation Pilot Program,” which provides federal grants for projects that will measurably reduce or mitigate aviation...
05/07/2021
Federal Affairs
Security Policy Alert: TSA Monthly Conference Call Summary for May 2021
TSA held its monthly conference call for airport stakeholders, led by Alan Paterno, TSA's Airport Industry Engagement Manager in the office of Policy, Plans and Engagement (PPE). This alert summarizes highlights from the call.
05/06/2021
Federal Affairs
Security Policy Alert: TSA Monthly Call Reminder, Information Requested on National Alternative Measure 1542-20-03, and ACC Webinar on PARAS 0028
TSA plans to discuss several items on tomorrow's call, including recent updates to the HSIN, REAL ID, the Rap Back program, a Compliance update, a Safe Skies update, and policy updates, including the status of the National AM 1542-20-03B, which...
05/05/2021
Airport Affairs
Airport Alert: Travel Restrictions for Republic of India and and Democratic Republic of Congo
The U.S. government has implemented or modified travel restrictions for the Republic of India and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
05/01/2021
Regulatory Affairs
Regulatory Alert: FAA Reminds Airports of Deadline to Apply for CRRSAA Airport Coronavirus Response Grants
FAA is reminding airport sponsors that June 30 is the deadline to apply for their share of the $2 billion in grants that have been awarded and made available for airports and eligible concessionaires through the CRRSAA.
04/30/2021
Airport Affairs
Airport Alert: Face Masks Required in Airports Through September 13, 2021
TSA informed AAAE that they will be extending the requirement for individuals to wear face masks in airports as outlined by SD 1542-21-01A until Sept. 13, 2021, at the direction of the White House COVID-19 Task Force.
04/30/2021
Federal Affairs
Security Policy Alert: DHS Extends REAL ID Enforcement Deadline to 2023
DHS Secretary Mayorkas announced that the full enforcement date for REAL ID will be extended once again from October 1, 2021 to May 3, 2023, due to circumstances resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
04/27/2021
Regulatory Affairs
Regulatory Alert: EPA Administrator Establishes New Council on PFAS
EPA Administrator Michael Regan issued a memo establishing an “EPA Council on PFAS” (ECP) to help the agency to strategize the best way to use the agency’s authorities, expertise and partnerships to mitigate and reduce the effects from PFAS and...
04/27/2021
Airport Affairs
Airport Alert: House Problem Solvers Caucus Introduces Framework for an Infrastructure Package
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan convened a bipartisan Infrastructure Summit of governors, senators and members of the House Problem Solvers Caucus to discuss guiding principles for a federal infrastructure package.
04/23/2021
Airport Affairs
Airport Alert: Senate Republicans Unveil Counterproposal to Biden Infrastructure Plan
A group of Senate Republicans, led by Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), unveiled a basic framework for their counterproposal to President Biden’s $2.3 trillion American Jobs Plan.
04/22/2021
Airport Affairs
Airport Alert: Bipartisan Bill to Gradually Raise PFC Cap Introduced in House
Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) today introduced legislation that proposes to gradually raise the federal cap on local PFCs beginning in 2023.
04/21/2021
Regulatory Affairs
Regulatory Alert: FAA to Host Live Qamp;amp;A Webinar on CRSSAA Airport Concessions Relief Grants
FAA Offices of Airports and Civil Rights announced that they will be hosting a webinar event on Apr. 22, at 2 p.m. ET to answer questions on Airport Concessions Relief Grants that have been made available through the CRRSAA.
04/20/2021
Regulatory Affairs
Regulatory Alert: AAAE Submits Comments on FAA's Research Efforts to Inform Aircraft Noise Policy
AAAE submitted comments to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in response to a request for input on the research activities that the agency is conducting to inform future aircraft noise policy.
04/14/2021
Airport Affairs
Airport Alert: Senate Confirms Trottenberg as Deputy Secretary of Transportation
The Senate approved Polly Trottenberg, President Biden’s pick to serve as Deputy Secretary of Transportation, by a vote of 82 to 15.
04/13/2021
Airport Affairs
Action Alert: Please Ask Your Lawmakers to Support Airport Proposals in Infrastructure Package
As infrastructure talks continue to heat up in Washington, we are urging airports to ask their elected officials to ensure that the next infrastructure package that Congress considers includes much-need funds to help airports of all sizes build criti
04/12/2021
Regulatory Affairs
Regulatory Alert: FAA Releases Updated FAQ Guidance for Airport Coronavirus Response Grant Program
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released an updated frequently asked questions (FAQ) document that provides guidance for airport sponsors on how FAA will administer the “Airport Coronavirus Response Grant Program” (ACRGP).
04/09/2021
