ACC News and Updates
July 15, 2021
Congressional Democrats have reached agreement on a budget framework that would provide $3.5 trillion in "social infrastructure" funding, including expanding Medicare, assisting families and fighting climate change. This is separate from the $1.2 trillion bipartisan Senate package that contains contains transportation and other infrastructure spending, including an additional $25 billion for airports. Republican support for the bipartisan infrastructure agreement remains tenuous, however, as some may balk at the Democrats’ attempt to wrap the separate $3.5 trillion into a budget reconciliation process.
Read the article here .
July 8, 2021
Democratic leaders in the Senate are reportedly working on plans to bring up a comprehensive $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill the week of July 19. The plan includes $25 billion in additional airport funding over five years. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is looking to bring up both the infrastructure bill and an FY 2022 budget resolution that contains a separate "social infrastructure" proposal. The infrastructure plan has grown from 10 bipartisan senators to 22 senate supporters. However, prospects are unclear as the agreement could fall apart, particularly if Senate Democrats try to package the social infrastructure proposal with an infrastructure package. ACC’s Advocacy Committee continues to monitor developments.
Read more about the bill here .
June 17, 2021
ACC sent a letter to congressional transportation committee leadership in support of including funding for airports in infrastructure investment legislation. "The pandemic may have paused the focus on airport infrastructure, but that need is returning with a vengeance," said ACC President T.J. Schulz in the letter. "Congress has a unique opportunity to invest in airport infrastructure that will provide short- and long-term benefits to the traveling public and economy and generate thousands of jobs."
Read the full letter here .
June 16, 2021
ACC sent a letter to congressional transportation committee leadership in support of including funding for airports in infrastructure investment legislation. “The pandemic may have paused the focus on airport infrastructure, but that need is returning with a vengeance,” said ACC President T.J. Schulz in the letter. “Congress has a unique opportunity to invest in airport infrastructure that will provide short- and long-term benefits to the traveling public and economy and generate thousands of jobs.”
May 27, 2021
Negotiations between the White House and congressional Republicans on an infrastructure bill are at a standstill as a significant gap remains between the two sides over the scope and cost. The Biden Administration brought its proposed package down from the original $2.25 trillion to $1.7 trillion, but it far exceeds the
$928 billion proposed by Republicans . Democrats may attempt to find ways to bypass Republican opposition by using a parliamentary maneuver called budget reconciliation. ACC will continue to monitor developments. Read the full article
here .
ACC Participates in ASAC Meeting
May 5, 2021
The TSA's
Aviation Security Advisory Council (ASAC) met this week and received briefings on key security initiatives. Acting TSA Administrator Darby LaJoye noted that TSA screened over 1.8 million passengers in one day recently, and that the agency was looking to
staff up more screeners to meet anticipated growth this summer. The ASAC is also looking into priority areas relating to insider threat mitigation initiatives, security considerations from UAS and UAM, international security standards and deployment of next generation screening technology. ACC President T.J. Schulz is an appointed member of the ASAC representing security technology companies and the airport construction sector.
FAA Awards $898.9 Million in Airport Improvement Grants
May 13, 2021
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the award of more than $898.9 million in infrastructure and safety projects through the FY2021 Airport Improvement Program (AIP). This total includes $113.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to award all grants at a 100-percent federal share. "These grants represent the legacy and vital role of airport infrastructure grant programs in helping the air transportation system operate safely," said FAA Administrator Steve Dickson.
Read the full press release here .
ACC Briefs Senate Commerce Committee Staff on Infrastructure Recommendations
May 5, 2021
The leadership of the ACC Advocacy Committee held a meeting this week with key staff of the Senate Commerce Committee on prospects for airport funding under a comprehensive infrastructure stimulus bill. ACC conveyed the important role airports will have in recovery from the pandemic, and the fact that funding from an infrastructure bill for airports will address chronic underfunding of needed capital projects. ACC also stressed the importance of providing maximum flexibility regarding funding eligibilities for projects, and also advocated for raising the cap on Passenger Facility Charges (PFCs). Participating in the meeting were ACC Advocacy Committee Chair Kaly Queiroz with Jacobs, Vice-Chair Michael Higdon with A19 Strategies, and YP liaison Kevin Spitz with CKL Engineering.