Congress Finally Agrees on Long Term FAA Bill

Regional Council of Rural Counties - Congress Finally Agrees on Long Term FAA Bill

Congress approved a long term reauthorization last week to fund the nation’s airports, ending a five year battle in which the FAA was funded by 23 short term extensions. In the end, an agreement was reached over language relating to an airline labor issue which had stalled the bill. Specifically, the $64 billion FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act, H.R. 658, sustains current funding levels for the modernization of air traffic control and infrastructure improvements at public airports.

RCRC joined the National Association of Counties to oppose language in the original versions of reauthorization that would have dramatically changed or even eliminated the essential Air Service program (EAS), which provides subsidies to rural airports to support commercial service. The final bill not only preserves the program, but increases its funding level. At the same time, it prevents new communities from entering EAS, and now limits eligibility to those communities participating in the program in FY 2011.