U.S. Sens. Todd Young (R-IN), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), and Ted Cruz (R-TX) reintroduced legislation to incentivize efficient airport construction this week.
The Expedited Delivery of Airport Infrastructure Act would allow airports to use Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding to incentivize the early completion of certain projects. Early completion would save taxpayer dollars and lead to more efficient and safe completion of the projects, the senators said.
Currently, airports are prohibited from using AIP funding to offer incentives for early completion.
“As the Crossroads of America, it is critical that Indiana’s airports continue to make important infrastructure investments,” Young said. “Hoosier airports are frequently working to improve their infrastructure and aviation safety with projects on their taxiways and runways, and it’s our job to help them complete those critical aviation infrastructure projects in the most efficient way possible.”
The AIP provides grants to public agencies and other entities for planning, developing, and executing infrastructure projects at public-use airports. The Expedited Delivery of Airport Infrastructure Act would allow airports to use up to $1 million of appropriated AIP funding as incentives to get projects completed early.
“Supporting completion of airport construction improves Arizona’s aviation infrastructure, creates jobs, and saves Arizona taxpayers money,” said Sinema, chair of the Senate Aviation Safety Operations and Innovation Subcommittee.
A companion bill, sponsored by U.S. Reps. Sam Graves (R-MO) and Garrett Graves (R-LA), was introduced in the House earlier this year and passed by voice vote on June 15, 2021.