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House to Act on Aviation Bill
The House of Representatives is set to consider a six-year reauthorization of the federal aviation programs the week of April 23. While H.R. 4, the “FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018,” has broad, bipartisan support from House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee members, it would also restrict Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding to $3.35 billion for each of the next six years. Federal airport infrastructure investment has been frozen at this level since FY 2012.
Representatives Lou Barletta (R-Pa.) and Sam Graves (R-Mo.) are offering an amendment that would restore AIP to the funding levels approved in 2017 by the T&I Committee – an annual average increase of $440 million over the life of the six year bill.
Another amendment, to remove the cap on the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC), is being offered by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.). The PFC is a user fee airports can charge passengers to generate revenue for capital improvements that has been held at $4.50 per enplanement since 2000.
The House Rules Committee will determine which of the 219 amendments filed for the FAA bill will receive votes. The Rules Committee is essentially an arm of the House Republican leadership and both have prevented amendments increasing infrastructure investment from getting to the House floor in the past.
Regardless of this record, ARTBA is urging the committee to allow House members to vote on the merits of the Barletta-Graves and Massie-DeFazio amendments. Similarly, the ARTBA co-chaired Transportation Construction Coalition pressed committee members in an April 20 letter to give the amendments an opportunity to be considered.
ARTBA will keep you apprised of the status of the amendments as this process moves forward next week.
Join Us In May In Washington For The Annual Fly-In
2018 could be the year of infrastructure in Washington, D.C. and the construction industry must be involved as the federal funding program is developed. The Transportation Construction Coalition, ARTBA and AGC are once again co-hosting the annual “Fly-In” to Washington D.C. to let members of Congress know that they must create a long-term fix for the country’s highway funding program. This is your chance to discuss our industry’s needs with your members of Congress and to impress upon them the importance of addressing the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund.
This year’s Fly-In will be on May 15th and 16th. OCA staff and members will be attending.
At the TCC legislative briefing on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 15th you will receive information about what policy and funding proposals are being considered. You will hear from key policy makers from Capitol Hill and the Administration and receive educational briefing materials on key industry priorities for your use in meeting with your congressional delegation.
The transportation construction industry cannot afford to miss this opportunity to help shape the future of our Nation's infrastructure investment. Join hundreds of other industry leaders from around the country in delivering our message to Capitol Hill May 15-16 in Washington D.C. The first day of the event will be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel at 1000 H Street, NW, Washington, D.C 20001. The second day will be spent on the Hill, meeting with members of Congress. If you are scheduling a meeting with your member, please contact Angela at [email protected] sowe can coordinate our group’s meetings.
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