[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 80 (Wednesday, May 8, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H2968-H2970]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AIRPORT AND AIRWAY EXTENSION ACT OF 2024, PART II
Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 8289) to extend authorizations for the airport
improvement program, to extend the funding and expenditure authority of
the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 8289
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Airport and Airway Extension
Act of 2024, Part II''.
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
TITLE I--FEDERAL AVIATION PROGRAMS
Sec. 101. Extension of airport improvement program; discretionary fund.
Sec. 102. Extension of expiring authorities; miscellaneous
authorizations.
TITLE II--AIRPORT REVENUE PROVISIONS
Sec. 201. Expenditure authority from Airport and Airway Trust Fund.
Sec. 202. Extension of taxes funding Airport and Airway Trust Fund.
TITLE I--FEDERAL AVIATION PROGRAMS
SEC. 101. EXTENSION OF AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM;
DISCRETIONARY FUND.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 48103(a)(7)
of title 49, United States Code, shall be applied by
substituting ``$2,105,191,256 for the period beginning
October 1, 2023, and ending on May 17, 2024.'' for
``$2,041,120,218 for the period beginning October 1, 2023,
and ending on May 10, 2024.''.
(b) Obligation Authority.--Subject to limitations specified
in advance in appropriations Acts, sums made available
pursuant to subsection (a) may be obligated at any time
through September 30, 2024, and shall remain available until
expended.
(c) Project Grant Authority.--Section 47104(c) of title 49,
United States Code, shall be applied by substituting ``May
17, 2024'' for ``May 10, 2024''.
(d) Special Rule for Apportionments.--Section
47114(c)(1)(J) of title 49, United States Code, shall be
applied by substituting ``May 17, 2024'' for ``May 10,
2024''.
(e) Supplemental Discretionary Funds.--Section
47115(j)(4)(A) of title 49, United States Code, shall be
applied by substituting ``$334,563,279 for the period
beginning on October 1, 2023, and ending on May 17, 2024.''
for ``$340,321,762 for the period beginning on October 1,
2023, and ending on May 10, 2024.''.
SEC. 102. EXTENSION OF EXPIRING AUTHORITIES; MISCELLANEOUS
AUTHORIZATIONS.
(a) The following provisions of law shall be applied by
substituting ``May 17, 2024'' for ``May 10, 2024'':
(1) Section 44310(b) of title 49, United States Code.
(2) Section 44803(h) of title 49, United States Code.
(3) Section 44807(d) of title 49, United States Code.
(4) Section 44810(h) of title 49, United States Code.
(5) Section 47115(i) of title 49, United States Code.
(6) Section 47141(f) of title 49, United States Code.
(7) Section 186(d) of the Vision 100--Century of Aviation
Reauthorization Act (Public Law 108-176).
(8) Section 409(d) of the Vision 100--Century of Aviation
Reauthorization Act (49 U.S.C. 41731 note).
(9) Section 411(h) of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act
of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 42301 note).
(10) Section 822(k) of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act
of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 47141 note).
(11) Section 161(a)(10) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of
2018 (49 U.S.C. 47104 note).
(12) Section 162 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (49
U.S.C. 47102 note).
(13) Section 372(d) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018
(49 U.S.C. 44810 note).
(14) Section 424(e) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018
(49 U.S.C. 42302 note).
(15) Section 439(g) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018
(49 U.S.C. 41705 note).
(16) Section 547(e) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018
(49 U.S.C. 40103 note).
[[Page H2969]]
(b) The following provisions of law shall be applied by
substituting ``May 18, 2024'' for ``May 11, 2024'':
(1) Section 47107(r)(3) of title 49, United States Code.
(2) Section 47143(c) of title 49, United States Code.
(3) Section 50905(c)(9) of title 51, United States Code.
(4) Section 210G(i) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6
U.S.C. 124n(i)).
(5) Section 2306(b) of the FAA Extension, Safety, and
Security Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-190; 130 Stat. 641).
(c) Section 48105 of title 49, United States Code, shall be
applied by substituting ``$24,508,197 for the period
beginning on October 1, 2023, and ending on May 17, 2024.''
for ``$23,762,295 for the period beginning on October 1,
2023, and ending on May 10, 2024.''.
TITLE II--AIRPORT REVENUE PROVISIONS
SEC. 201. EXPENDITURE AUTHORITY FROM AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST
FUND.
(a) Sections 9502(d)(1) and 9502(e)(2) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 shall be applied by substituting ``May
18, 2024'' for ``May 11, 2024''.
(b) Section 9502(d)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 is amended by striking the semicolon at the end and
inserting ``or the Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2024,
Part II;''.
SEC. 202. EXTENSION OF TAXES FUNDING AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST
FUND.
(a) Sections 4043(d), 4081(d)(2)(B), 4261(j),
4261(k)(1)(A)(ii), and 4271(d)(1)(A)(ii) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 shall be applied by substituting ``May
17, 2024'' for ``May 10, 2024''.
(b) Section 4083(b) of such Code shall be applied by
substituting ``May 18, 2024'' for ``May 11, 2024''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Missouri (Mr. Graves) and the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Larsen)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri.
General Leave
Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on H.R. 8289.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Missouri?
There was no objection.
Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 8289 extends the statutory authorities of the
Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, through May 17, 2024. While this
extension provides for key extensions of FAA authorities, such as the
continued collection of aviation excise taxes that the safe operation
of the national airspace is very dependent on, it is largely needed to
accommodate the Senate's inability to successfully pass the conferenced
FAA bill in time for the House to take a final vote before Friday.
The House did its part to provide for a long-term reauthorization of
the FAA on time and well ahead of schedule when we passed H.R. 3935
last summer in an overwhelming bipartisan fashion with more than 350
votes. It is unfortunate that the Senate's process for considering its
FAA bill continues to be plagued by delays necessitating this
extension.
I know my colleagues in the House are ready to send the compromise
bill to the President once and for all. The good news is that we are so
close to doing that.
Setting aside the Senate's ability to act in a timely manner, the
stark reality is that the FAA is set to expire on May 10, and we must
act to pass another extension to maintain safety in the National
Airspace System.
The Senate and House have worked tirelessly since the Senate Commerce
Committee marked up its FAA bill in February. We have worked tirelessly
to reconcile differences and produce a comprehensive FAA bill that
provides certainty to the agency and the entire aviation community for
the next 5 years.
The negotiated bill provides the long-term certainty to ensure the
safety and prosperity of the American aviation industry for decades to
come. Extensions don't provide any certainty, nor do they provide for
the robust investments airports across the country need to ensure the
continued transportation of goods and services to our communities.
For those reasons, both Chambers remain committed to passing a long-
term bill.
In the meantime, this extension buys the Senate a little bit more
time to do their job while keeping the national airspace safe and
ensuring that airlines don't get a $50 million-a-day tax break.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Members to support this extension so
that we can consider the conferenced bill next week.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8289, which extends the
authorization to FAA and its related authorities for 1 week to give the
Senate the time it needs to wrap up its consideration of this bicameral
and bipartisan comprehensive FAA reauthorization bill.
This legislation reflects an agreement between the House and Senate.
It will protect the safety of the flying public and ensure the future
of the U.S. aviation industry.
Think back to last July, Mr. Speaker, when the House passed its
version of this bill 351-69, a strong bipartisan bill.
Since then, I am actually pleased with the progress that we have made
and that we were able to come to an agreement with our Senate
counterparts last Sunday. We have been in close contact with the Senate
as they have continued to consider this legislation.
This is, and will be next week, a bipartisan, bicameral product, and
Members should not be surprised about what is included in it.
Unfortunately, the Senate is still working through its process and
may not be able to send us the bill before the current authorization
expires on Friday.
Nonetheless, I want to assure Members that Chairman Graves and I have
fought hard for House Member priorities. I am very pleased to report
that the vast majority of those priorities remain intact in the final
package. Members' voices were heard as we worked hard to address the
longstanding issues in our aviation system.
The Senate just needs a little bit more time. I fully expect the
Senate to complete consideration and send the FAA Reauthorization Act
of 2024 to the House well before May 17, the time at which this
extension expires.
Mr. Speaker, I support the short-term extension, and I urge my
colleagues to do the same. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, new and persistent challenges
facing the U.S. aviation system have made clear the status quo is
unsustainable. We have to avoid a lapse in authorities of FAA. This
current extension does that for 1 week and gives the Senate the short
time it needs to deliberate and vote on the final bill.
Mr. Speaker, I support this extension, and I urge my colleagues to do
the same. I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, again, I urge all Members to
support this must-pass bill so we can keep our aviation system
operating safely and focus on passing a long-term FAA bill next week.
H.R. 8289 provides for a clean extension of FAA authorities. It does
not include policy riders.
Failure to extend FAA's authorities will cost the Federal Government
more than $50 million a day in lost revenues. Enacting a long-term
comprehensive FAA bill is the goal of both the House and Senate, and I
look forward to presenting that critical piece of legislation to you
next week.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Graves) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 8289.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
[[Page H2970]]
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