Senate Panel Approves Aviation Bill with Hike for Airport Grant Program
Legislation to reauthorize airport grants and other Federal Aviation Administration programs is moving in the Senate. The Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on May 16 approved a four-year bill that would increase funding for FAA's Airport Improvement Program, which provides grants for runways and other construction work.
The committee's measure, introduced by aviation subcommittee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), would authorize $15.8 billion for AIP over the term of the bill. Funding would start at $3.8 billion in fiscal 2008, then increase by $100 million annually, topping out at $4.1 billion in 2011. Authorizations would be subject to annual appropriations. The 2007 AIP appropriation is $3.5 billion.