On Thursday, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee met to consider amendments to H.R. 4441, the Aviation Innovation Reform Reauthorization (AIRR) Act. This six-year bill on federal aviation programs would authorize funding for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), the Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP), and the Essential Air Service (EAS) small community support program.
The most controversial provision in the bill is one to create a non-for-profit corporation to take over and run the nation’s air traffic control system. RCRC sent a letter to the Committee prior to the markup urging support of the AIP, EAS, and SCASDP programs. Among the 75 amendments considered, several were approved to increase funding for each of these programs. The bill was approved on a 32-26 vote, which was largely along party lines. Its fate is uncertain due to opposition to the air traffic control privatization provisions in the bill.