ACC News and Updates
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.
ACC Continues to Focus on DEI Initiatives
April 29, 2021
ACC has been busy on many fronts over the past year identifying ways to promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within the organization and the industry. The ACC Board of Directors continues to monitor the implementation of ACC's strategic priority of increasing human capital and diversity in the airport development industry, including standing up a special ACC DEI Working Group. ACC is specifically focusing on setting procedures to reflect diversity and inclusion through the Board, committee leaders and ACC events. ACC is also collaborating with AMAC to help stand up the Project Lift event in June, which will attract hundreds of high school students to learn about opportunities for careers in aviation and airports. Stay tuned for more details on future initiatives.
Republicans Discuss Scaled-Down Infrastructure Proposal
April 15, 2021
The House and Senate Republicans are reportedly discussing options to counter President Biden's comprehensive $2 trillion American Jobs Plan proposal. Republicans are looking at a scaled-down measure that could provide $600 - $800 billion in “core” infrastructure funding. "What I'd like to do is get back to what I consider the regular definition of infrastructure in terms of job creation. So that's roads, bridges, ports, airports, including broadband into that, water infrastructure," said Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, the top Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, during an interview with CNBC Wednesday. In the meantime, Democrats are considering options to move a more comprehensive infrastructure package, including possibly using a budget reconciliation as a means to secure a simple majority vote in the Senate. Read the full article here
.
Details on Biden Plan for Airports Available
April 8, 2021
Details on the specific infrastructure spending levels in the
American Jobs Act were circulated in Washington this week. According to a two-page summary, of the $25 billion proposed for airports, $10 billion would be provided under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), $10 billion for "
a new program to support terminal renovations and multimodal connections for affordable, convenient, car-free access to air travel," and $5 billion for FAA National Airspace System Facilities. Discussions continue on Capitol Hill regarding the approach Democrats will take on moving an infrastructure spending package forward, including possibly using a budget reconciliation process that would require a simple majority vote in the Senate.
Read the full article here.
Biden Infrastructure Plan Proposes $25 Billion for Airports
April 4, 2021
This week President Biden unveiled his eight-year, $2 trillion American Jobs Act which invests $620 billion in transportation. His proposal includes $25 billion for airports, "including funding for the Airport Improvement Program, upgrades to FAA assets that ensure safe and efficient air travel, and a new program to support terminal renovations and multimodal connections for affordable, convenient, car-free access to air travel."
Read the full article here.
ACI-NA Finds $115 Billion in Post-COVID Airport Needs
March 18, 2021
Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) unveiled its
2021Infrastructure Report this week, which identified $115 billion in planning and infrastructure projects needed at U.S. airports over the next five years. "Instead of investing in larger, high-impact projects that would modernize facilities and increase capacity, airports have been forced to prioritize smaller, immediate needs like maintenance of aging structures and systems," the report states. ACI notes that the chronic underfunding of airport capital projects has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, with airports expecting to lose $40 billion in revenues that help fund operations and projects. ACI calls for modernizing the PFC program by raising the cap and notes the critical importance airports will play in economic recovery from the pandemic. The ACC Advocacy Committee is hosting a Washington Update webinar for members on Friday, March 19 at 11:30 EDT to discuss the report and other activities in Congress.
FAA Releases Guidance on $2 Billion Grant Program for Airports
February 18, 2021
ACC joined other airport and airline stakeholders in a briefing with FAA on the release of $2 billion in funding under the new Airport Coronavirus Response Grant Program (ACRGP). The funding was made available under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriation Act (CRRSAA), which was signed into law on December 27. The FAA issued a
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document providing guidance to sponsors on grant eligibilities and the application process. FAA has set a deadline of June 30, 2021 for grant applications. Learn more about the FAA Airport Coronavirus Response Grant Program
here .