Aviation Bill Finally Clears Congress, with $14.2 Billion for Airport Grants
After weeks of negotiating, the Senate has passed a four-year, $60-billion aviation measure that contains $14.2 billion for federal airport grants. The Senate's Nov. 21 approval is the final congressional action on the legislation. President Bush's expected signature will permit the Federal Aviation Administration to resume approving new Airport Improvement Program grants. The agency had been unable to clear new AIP aid since Sept. 30 when the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century--AIR-21--expired.
The measure had been hung up because of Democratic, and union, opposition to a provision that would let FAA contract out more air traffic controller positions. But under a compromise brokered by Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) FAA agreed not to put any controller jobs up for possible privatization through Sept. 30, 2004, when the fiscal year ends. A Nov. 21 letter from FAA Administrator Marion Blakey confirming that pledge sealed the deal.