[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Page 21479]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              EMERGENCY AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT GRANTS

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 1786, introduced earlier 
today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1786) to authorize the Secretary of 
     Transportation to make emergency airport improvement project 
     grants-in-aid under title 49, United States Code, for repairs 
     and costs related to damage from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third 
time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, and any 
statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 1786) was read the third time and passed, as follows:

                                S. 1786

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. EMERGENCY USE OF GRANTS-IN-AID FOR AIRPORT 
                   IMPROVEMENTS FOR FISCAL YEARS 2005 AND 2006.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Transportation may make 
     project grants under part B, subtitle VII, of title 49, 
     United States Code, from amounts that remain unobligated 
     after the date of enactment of this Act for fiscal years 2005 
     and 2006--
       (1) from apportioned funds under section 47114 of that 
     title apportioned to an airport described in subsection 
     (b)(1) or to a State in which such airport is located; or
       (2) from funds available for discretionary grants to such 
     an airport under section 47115 of such title.
       (b) Eligible Airports and Uses.--The Secretary may make 
     grants under subsection (a) for--
       (1) emergency capital costs incurred by a public use 
     airport in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, or Texas that is 
     listed in the Federal Aviation Administration's National Plan 
     of Integrated Airport Systems of repairing or replacing 
     public use facilities that have been damaged as a result of 
     Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita; and
       (2) emergency operating costs incurred by an airport 
     described in paragraph (1) as a result of Hurricane Katrina 
     or Hurricane Rita.
       (c) Priorities.--In making grants authorized by subsection 
     (a), the Secretary shall give priority to--
       (1) airport development within the meaning of section 47102 
     of title 49, United States Code;
       (2) terminal development within the meaning of section 
     47110 of that title;
       (3) repair or replacement of other public use airport 
     facilities; and
       (4) emergency operating costs incurred at public use 
     airports in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas.
       (d) Modification of Certain Otherwise Applicable 
     Requirements.--For purposes of any grant authorized by 
     subsection (a)--
       (1) the Secretary may waive any otherwise applicable 
     limitation on, or requirement for, grants under section 
     47102, 47107(a)(17), 47110, or 47119 of title 49, United 
     States Code, if the Secretary determines that the waiver is 
     necessary to respond, in as timely and efficient a manner as 
     possible, to the urgent needs of the region damaged by 
     Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita;
       (2) the United States Government's share of allowable 
     project costs shall be 100 percent, notwithstanding the 
     provisions of section 47109 of that title;
       (3) any project funded by such a grant shall be deemed to 
     be an airport development project (within the meaning of 
     section 47102 of that title), except for the purpose of 
     establishing priorities under subsection (b) of this section 
     among projects to be funded by such grants; and
       (4) no project funded by such a grant may be considered, 
     for the purpose of any other provision of law, to be a major 
     Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the 
     human environment.

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