Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
The bill creates a new Regional Airport Expansion Program in title 49 U.S.C. to award annual grants to eligible general aviation or nonprimary commercial service airports serving communities of at least 75,000. Grants (3–10 per year) may fund runway lengthening, passenger and property screening expansion, hangars, passenger facilities, and costs to meet certain operational and security regulations.
Environmental and community impacts vs. economic development benefits.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill establishes a clear-purpose statutory grant program with defined eligible uses, a beneficiary definition, an annual appropriation authorization, and a cap on the number of awards per year.
The bill creates a new Regional Airport Expansion Program in title 49 U.S.C. to award annual grants to eligible general aviation or nonprimary commercial service airports serving communities of at least 75,000.
Grants (3–10 per year) may fund runway lengthening, passenger and property screening expansion, hangars, passenger facilities, and costs to meet certain operational and security regulations.
It authorizes $50,000,000 per fiscal year for the program and adds the new chapter and section headings to the U.S. Code.
Modest, noncontroversial program with limited cost improves chances, but needs appropriations or package inclusion to become law.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill establishes a clear-purpose statutory grant program with defined eligible uses, a beneficiary definition, an annual appropriation authorization, and a cap on the number of awards per year. However, it omits many customary statutory details needed to operationalize and oversee a recurring federal grant program, such as award criteria, application process, grant terms, matching or cost-sharing rules, measures to avoid duplication with existing programs, and reporting/oversight requirements.
Environmental and community impacts vs. economic development benefits.
These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.
Environmental and community impacts vs. economic development benefits.
Likely cautiously supportive of federal investment in underserved regional infrastructure that can expand access and local jobs.
Concerns would center on environmental impacts, community effects (noise, displacement), and prioritization criteria for equity.
Would look for strong environmental review, labor standards, and community engagement conditions.
Generally favorable toward a modest federal program that upgrades regional infrastructure and can relieve major-hub congestion.
Sees $50M/year and 3–10 grants as fiscally bounded but wants clear selection criteria, accountability, and performance metrics.
Support hinges on transparency, cost-effectiveness, and measurable economic benefits.
Skeptical about new federal grant programs that pick winners and expand federal influence.
Some support possible for projects with clear local economic benefit or national security value, but overall worry about taxpayer costs and federal overreach.
Likely to press for local matching, limited scope, and stringent oversight.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Modest, noncontroversial program with limited cost improves chances, but needs appropriations or package inclusion to become law.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Environmental and community impacts vs. economic development benefits.
Modest, noncontroversial program with limited cost improves chances, but needs appropriations or package inclusion to become law.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill establishes a clear-purpose statutory grant program with defined eligible uses, a beneficiary definition, an annual appropriation authorization, and a cap on the numb…
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