[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 95 (Thursday, July 14, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S8318]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BOND:
  S. 1404. A bill to clarify that terminal development grants remain in 
effect under certain conditions; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation.
  Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation that 
will allow for the continued expansion of non-primary hub airports 
across the country.
  The simple fact of the matter is that demand for commercial air 
service in and out of many of these smaller non-primary hub airports is 
far exceeding the current operational capacity at these airports. 
Expanded airfield and terminal capacity at these airports are 
desperately needed to meet the growing demand for air service in these 
high growth communities.
  The Springfield/Branson Metropolitan Area in Southwest Missouri is a 
classic example of one of these high growth communities where demand 
for air service is exceeding the current operational capacity of area's 
primary regional airport.
  The city of Springfield is the economic hub for 26 Missouri Counties 
with a population of approximately 1 million people. Over the last 10 
years, the population of the Springfield area has increased by more 
than twice the annual growth rate experienced by the State of Missouri.
  The Springfield metropolitan workforce has grown by more than 27 
percent the past 10 years, and is projected to grow by 18 percent over 
the next ten years. Annual regional tourism accounts for over 2.2 
million visitors in Springfield and over 7 million annual visitors to 
the booming Branson area.
  Because of the tremendous growth in this region, demand for an air 
service in and out of the Springfield/Branson Regional Airport is 
soaring. The current airport is experiencing great difficulty in trying 
to keep up with the growing demand for air service in this region. The 
capacity at the current airport is virtually at its maximum.
  The FAA has already approved the Springfield Regional Airport Master 
Plan and completed an environmental assessment for this plan. So far, 
the FAA has invested over $7 million in the planning and design for 
this project. Further funding for this project will be needed to fund 
the expansion of air-side apron, runways, taxiways and limited eligible 
components of the terminal.
  In order to ensure that this essential project goes forward and that 
previous Federal tax dollars are not wasted, I am introducing 
legislation that will clarify the status of the Springfield Regional 
Airport as a non-hub primary airport.
  This legislation states that if the status of a non-hub primary 
airport changes to a small hub primary airport at a time when the 
airport has already received FAA discretionary funds for a terminal 
development project--and this project is not yet completed--then the 
project shall remain eligible for funding from the discretionary fund 
and the small airport fund to pay costs allowable under section 
47110(d) of Title 49. Such an airport project will remain eligible for 
these funds for three fiscal years after the start of construction of 
the project, or, if the Secretary determines that a further extension 
of eligibility is justified, until the project is completed.
  This legislation will ensure that the ongoing expansion projects of 
smaller airports across the country will continue in order to 
accommodate the growing demand for additional airfield and terminal 
capacity at these airports.
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