[House Report 119-552]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
119th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 119-552
======================================================================
AIRPORT REGULATORY RELIEF ACT OF 2025
_______
March 16, 2026.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Graves, from the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 6427]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom
was referred the bill (H.R. 6427) to amend title 49, United
States Code, to permit the use of State highway standards for
airfield pavement construction and improvement under certain
circumstances, and for other purposes, having considered the
same, reports favorably thereon with an amendment and
recommends that the bill as amended do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
Purpose of Legislation........................................... 2
Background and Need for Legislation.............................. 2
Hearings......................................................... 3
Legislative History and Consideration............................ 3
Committee Votes.................................................. 3
Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations................. 3
New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures........................ 3
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate........................ 4
Performance Goals and Objectives................................. 5
Duplication of Federal Programs.................................. 5
Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff
Benefits....................................................... 5
Federal Mandates Statement....................................... 5
Preemption Clarification......................................... 5
Advisory Committee Statement..................................... 5
Applicability to Legislative Branch.............................. 5
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation................... 6
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............ 6
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Airport Regulatory Relief Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. USE OF STATE HIGHWAY STANDARDS.
Section 47114(d)(4) of title 49, United States Code, is amended to
read as follows:
``(4) Use of state highway specifications.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall use the
highway specifications of a State for airfield pavement
construction and improvement using funds made available
under this subsection or subsection (c)(1)(D) at
nonprimary airports serving aircraft that do not exceed
60,000 pounds gross weight if--
``(i) such State provides notice to the
Secretary that nonprimary airports in the State
intend to use such highway specifications; and
``(ii) the Secretary determines that such
specifications will not negatively affect
safety.
``(B) Deadline.--The Secretary shall make a
determination described in subparagraph (A)(ii) not
later than 6 months after a State provides notice to
the Secretary under subparagraph (A)(i).
``(C) Extension.--If the Secretary determines that
the time provided under subparagraph (B) is
insufficient to make a determination, the Secretary may
extend the determination period by 6 months, so long as
the Secretary--
``(i) notifies the State that provided notice
pursuant to subparagraph (A)(i) of the
extension; and
``(ii) provides justification for the
extension to such State.
``(D) Additional extensions.--The Secretary may
authorize additional extensions under subparagraph
(C).''.
Purpose of Legislation
The purpose of H.R. 6427, as amended, is to amend title 49,
United States Code, to permit the use of State highway
standards for airfield pavement construction and improvement
under certain circumstances, and for other purposes.
Background and Need for Legislation
Historically, certain non-primary airports seeking to use
state highway specifications for an airfield pavement
construction project instead of Federal aviation paving
standards had to formally request approval from the Secretary
of Transportation. The formality of requesting permission to
use state highway specifications can lead to increased backlogs
of approvals and increased project construction time.
H.R. 6427, as amended, affords certain non-primary airports
the opportunity to be more agile in their project planning by
removing the requirement that states formally request
permission from the Secretary to use state highway
specifications. By allowing states to notify the Secretary of
their intention to use state highway specifications, rather
than request permission, critical airfield pavement
construction projects will no longer be subject to lengthy and
bureaucratic delays. To ensure safety, H.R. 6427, as amended,
maintains the requirement that the Secretary of Transportation
make a determination on whether the use of such state highway
standards would negatively affect aviation safety. However, the
Secretary's determination must now be made within six months
after receiving an initial notification from a non-primary
airport. The Secretary is further allowed to issue themselves
additional six-month extensions, so long as the Secretary
provides notice and justification for each extension.
Hearings
For the purposes of rule XIII, clause 3(c)(6)(A) of the
119th Congress--
The following hearing was used to develop or consider H.R.
6427: On Tuesday, April 8, 2025, the Subcommittee on Aviation
held a hearing entitled, ``America Builds: Airport
Infrastructure, Safety, and Regulatory Environment.'' At the
hearing, Members received testimony from Mr. Michael Landguth,
President, Chief Executive Officer, Raleigh-Durham Airport
Authority (RDU); Mr. Lawrence Krauter, Chief Executive Officer,
Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG); and
Mr. Andre Sutton, International Vice President, Director, Air
Division, Transport Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO. The
hearing examined the current state of America's airport
infrastructure and regulatory hurdles that airports face when
renovating outdated infrastructure.
Legislative History and Consideration
H.R. 6427, the ``Airport Regulatory Relief Act of 2025,''
was introduced in the United States House of Representatives on
December 4, 2025, by Representative Nicholas Begich (R-AK),
with Representatives Ed Case (D-HI), David Taylor (R-OH) and
Jill Tokuda (D-HI) as original cosponsors, and referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Within the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, H.R. 6427 was
referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation. The Subcommittee on
Aviation was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 6427
on December 18, 2025.
The Committee considered H.R. 6427 on December 18, 2025,
and ordered the measure to be reported to the House with a
favorable recommendation, with amendment, by voice vote.
The following amendment was offered:
An Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 6427,
offered by Mr. Begich of Alaska; was AGREED TO by voice vote.
Committee Votes
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives requires each committee report to include the
total number of votes cast for and against on each record vote
on a motion to report and on any amendment offered to the
measure or matter, and the names of those members voting for
and against.
No recorded votes were requested.
Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(1) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are
reflected in this report.
New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures
Clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives does not apply where a cost estimate and
comparison prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974 has been timely submitted prior to the filing of the
report and is included in the report. Such a cost estimate is
included in this report.
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate
With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section
402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has
received the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 6427 from the
Director of the Congressional Budget Office:
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
H.R. 6427 would amend requirements for the Airport
Improvement Program (AIP) grants to nonprimary airports by
streamlining the process for using state construction standards
in airfield pavement projects. Under current law, airports
generally are required to use Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) construction standards to receive AIP funding for such
projects. However, certain nonprimary airports may use state
standards if the FAA determines they would not negatively
affect safety or pavement quality. The bill would allow
nonprimary airports to declare their intent to use state
standards rather than FAA standards.
H.R. 6427 would not change the total amount of AIP grants
awarded. However, CBO expects that the bill could affect the
timing of spending for certain projects that use previously
appropriated funds. On that basis, CBO estimates that enacting
H.R. 6427 would have an insignificant effect on direct spending
over the 2026-2031 period and no net effect over the 2026-2036
period. Implementing the bill would not affect spending subject
to appropriation.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Emma Uebelhor.
The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy
Director of Budget Analysis.
Phillip L. Swagel,
Director, Congressional Budget Office.
Performance Goals and Objectives
With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
performance goal and objective of this legislation is to amend
title 49, United States Code, to permit the use of State
highway standards for airfield pavement construction and
improvement under certain circumstances, and for other
purposes.
Duplication of Federal Programs
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the Committee finds that no provision
of H.R. 6427 establishes or reauthorizes a program of the
Federal government known to be duplicative of another Federal
program, a program that was included in any report from the
Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to
section 21 of Public Law 111-139, or a program related to a
program identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance.
Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff
Benefits
In compliance with clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, this bill, as reported, contains no
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff
benefits as defined in clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of the rule
XXI.
Federal Mandates Statement
An estimate of Federal mandates prepared by the Director of
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act was not made available to the
Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chairman
of the Committee shall cause such estimate to be printed in the
Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee.
Preemption Clarification
Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974
requires the report of any Committee on a bill or joint
resolution to include a statement on the extent to which the
bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local,
or tribal law. The Committee finds that H.R. 6427 does not
preempt any state, local, or tribal law.
Advisory Committee Statement
No advisory committees within the definition of Section
5(b) of the appendix to Title 5, United States Code, are
created by this legislation.
Applicability to Legislative Branch
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law
104-1).
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation
Section 1. Short title
This section provides that this bill may be cited as the
``Airport Regulatory Relief Act of 2025.''
Section 2. Use of state highway standards
This section amends title 49, United States Code, section
47114(d)(4) to allow non-primary airports serving aircraft that
do not exceed 60,000 pounds of gross weight to use state
highway specifications for airfield pavement construction
projects if the state provides notice to the Secretary of
Transportation that they intend to use such specifications and
the Secretary subsequently determines the specifications will
not negatively impact aviation safety.
Additionally, this section requires the Secretary to make a
determination on the impact to aviation safety within six
months. If the Secretary determines that six months is an
inadequate time to make such a determination, the Secretary may
extend the determination period by an extra six months provided
the Secretary notifies the state of such an extension.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italics, and existing law in which no
change is proposed is shown in roman):
TITLE 49, UNITED STATES CODE
* * * * * * *
SUBTITLE VII--AVIATION PROGRAMS
* * * * * * *
PART B--AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT AND NOISE
* * * * * * *
CHAPTER 471--AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT
* * * * * * *
SUBCHAPTER I--AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT
* * * * * * *
Sec. 47114. Apportionments
(a) Definition.--In this section, ``amount subject to
apportionment'' means the amount newly made available under
section 48103 of this title for a fiscal year.
(b) Apportionment Date.--On the first day of each fiscal
year, the Secretary of Transportation shall apportion the
amount subject to apportionment for that fiscal year as
provided in this section.
(c) Amounts Apportioned to Sponsors.--
(1) Primary and commercial service airports.--
(A) Primary airport apportionment.--The
Secretary shall apportion to the sponsor of
each primary airport for each fiscal year an
amount equal to--
(i) $15.60 for each of the first
50,000 passenger boardings at the
airport during the prior calendar year;
(ii) $10.40 for each of the next
50,000 passenger boardings at the
airport during the prior calendar year;
(iii) $5.20 for each of the next
400,000 passenger boardings at the
airport during the prior calendar year;
(iv) $1.30 for each of the next
500,000 passenger boardings at the
airport during the prior calendar year;
and
(v) $1.00 for each additional
passenger boarding at the airport
during the prior calendar year.
(B) Minimum and maximum apportionments.--Not
less than $1,300,000 nor more than $22,000,000
may be apportioned under subparagraph (A) to an
airport sponsor for a primary airport for each
fiscal year.
(C) New airport.--Notwithstanding
subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall apportion
in the first fiscal year following the official
opening of a new airport with scheduled
passenger air transportation an amount equal to
$1,300,000 to the sponsor of such airport.
(D) Nonprimary commercial service airport
apportionment.--
(i) In general.--The Secretary shall
apportion to each commercial service
airport that is not a primary airport
an amount equal to--
(I) $60 for each of the first
2,500 passenger boardings at
the airport during the prior
calendar year; and
(II) $153.33 for each of the
next 7,499 passenger boardings
at the airport during the prior
calendar year.
(ii) Applicability.--Paragraphs (4)
and (5) of subsection (d) shall apply
to funds apportioned under this
subparagraph.
(E) Public airports with military use.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a
public airport shall be considered a primary
airport in each of fiscal years 2025 through
2028 for purposes of this chapter if such
airport was--
(i) designated as a primary airport
in fiscal year 2017; and
(ii) in use by an air reserve station
in the calendar year used to calculate
apportionments to airport sponsors in a
fiscal year.
(F) Special rule for fiscal year 2024.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of this
paragraph or the absence of scheduled passenger
service at an airport, the Secretary shall
apportion in fiscal year 2024 to the sponsor of
an airport an amount based on the number of
passenger boardings at the airport during
whichever of the following years that would
result in the highest apportioned amount under
this paragraph:
(i) Calendar year 2018.
(ii) Calendar year 2019.
(iii) The prior full calendar year
prior to fiscal year 2024.
(2) Cargo airports.--
(A) Apportionment.--Subject to subparagraph (D), the
Secretary shall apportion an amount equal to 4 percent
of the amount subject to apportionment each fiscal year
to the sponsors of airports served by aircraft
providing air transportation of only cargo with a total
annual landed weight of more than 25,000,000 pounds.
(B) Suballocation formula.--Any funds apportioned
under subparagraph (A) to sponsors of airports
described in subparagraph (A) shall be allocated among
those airports in the proportion that the total annual
landed weight of aircraft described in subparagraph (A)
landing at each of those airports bears to the total
annual landed weight of those aircraft landing at all
those airports.
(C) Distribution to other airports.--Before
apportioning amounts to the sponsors of airports under
subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year, the Secretary may
set-aside a portion of such amounts for distribution to
the sponsors of other airports, selected by the
Secretary, that the Secretary finds will be served
primarily by aircraft providing air transportation of
only cargo.
(D) Determination of landed weight.--Landed weight
under this paragraph is the landed weight of aircraft
landing at each airport described in subparagraph (A)
during the prior calendar year.
(d) Amounts Apportioned for General Aviation Airports.--
(1) Definitions.--In this subsection, the following
definitions apply:
(A) Area.--The term ``area'' includes land
and water.
(B) Population.--The term ``population''
means the population stated in the latest
decennial census of the United States.
(2) Apportionment.--In any fiscal year in which the
total amount made available under section 48103 is
$3,200,000,000 or more, rather than making an
apportionment under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall
apportion 25 percent of the amount subject to
apportionment for each fiscal year as follows:
(A) To each airport, excluding commercial
service airports but including reliever
airports, in States the lesser of--
(i) $150,000; or
(ii) 1/5 of the most recently
published estimate of the 5-year costs
for airport improvement for the
airport, as listed in the national plan
of integrated airport systems developed
by the Federal Aviation Administration
under section 47103.
(B) Any remaining amount to States as
follows:
(i) 0.62 percent of the remaining
amount to Guam, American Samoa, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, and the Virgin Islands.
(ii) Except as provided in paragraph
(4), 49.69 percent of the remaining
amount for airports, excluding
commercial service airports but
including reliever airports, in States
not named in clause (i) in the
proportion that the population of each
of those States bears to the total
population of all of those States.
(iii) Except as provided in paragraph
(4), 49.69 percent of the remaining
amount for airports, excluding
commercial service airports but
including reliever airports, in States
not named in clause (i) in the
proportion that the area of each of
those States bears to the total area of
all of those States.
(C) An airport that has previously been
listed as unclassified under the national plan
of integrated airport systems that has
reestablished the classified status of such
airport as of the date of apportionment shall
be eligible to accrue apportionment funds
pursuant to subparagraph (A) so long as such
airport retains such classified status.
(3) Airports in noncontiguous states and
territories.--
(A) Alaska, puerto rico, and hawaii.--An
amount apportioned under this subsection to
Alaska, Puerto Rico, or Hawaii for airports in
such State may be made available by the
Secretary for any public airport in those
respective jurisdictions.
(B) Other territories.--An amount apportioned
under paragraph (2)(B)(i) may be made available
by the Secretary for any public-use airport in
Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana
Islands, or the Virgin Islands if the Secretary
determines that there are insufficient
qualified grant applications for projects at
airports that are otherwise eligible for
funding under that paragraph. The Secretary
shall prioritize the use of such amounts in the
territory the amount was originally apportioned
in.
[(4) Use of state highway specifications.--The
Secretary shall use the highway specifications of a
State for airfield pavement construction and
improvement using funds made available under this
subsection or subsection (c)(1)(D) at nonprimary
airports serving aircraft that do not exceed 60,000
pounds gross weight if--
[(A) such State requests the use of such
specifications; and
[(B) the Secretary determines that--
[(i) safety will not be negatively
affected; and
[(ii) the life of the pavement, with
necessary maintenance and upkeep, will
not be shorter than it would be if
constructed using Administration
standards.]
(4) Use of state highway specifications.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall use the
highway specifications of a State for airfield
pavement construction and improvement using
funds made available under this subsection or
subsection (c)(1)(D) at nonprimary airports
serving aircraft that do not exceed 60,000
pounds gross weight if--
(i) such State provides notice to the
Secretary that nonprimary airports in
the State intend to use such highway
specifications; and
(ii) the Secretary determines that
such specifications will not negatively
affect safety.
(B) Deadline.--The Secretary shall make a
determination described in subparagraph (A)(ii)
not later than 6 months after a State provides
notice to the Secretary under subparagraph
(A)(i).
(C) Extension.--If the Secretary determines
that the time provided under subparagraph (B)
is insufficient to make a determination, the
Secretary may extend the determination period
by 6 months, so long as the Secretary--
(i) notifies the State that provided
notice pursuant to subparagraph (A)(i)
of the extension; and
(ii) provides justification for the
extension to such State.
(D) Additional extensions.--The Secretary may
authorize additional extensions under
subparagraph (C).
(5) Integrated airport system planning.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section,
funds made available under this subsection or
subsection (c)(1)(D) may be used for integrated airport
system planning that encompasses one or more primary
airports.
(6) Eligibility to receive primary airport minimum
apportionment amount.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of this subsection, the Secretary may
apportion to an airport sponsor in a fiscal year an
amount equal to the minimum apportionment available
under subsection (c)(1)(B) if the Secretary finds that
the airport--
(A) received scheduled or unscheduled air
service from a large certificated air carrier
(as defined in part 241 of title 14, Code of
Federal Regulations, or such other regulations
as may be issued by the Secretary under the
authority of section 41709) in the calendar
year used to calculate the apportionment; and
(B) had more than 10,000 passenger boardings
in the calendar year used to calculate the
apportionment.
(e) Supplemental Apportionment for Alaska.--
(1) In general.--Notwithstanding subsections (c) and
(d) of this section, the Secretary may apportion
amounts for airports in Alaska in the way in which
amounts were apportioned in the fiscal year ending
September 30, 1980, under section 15(a) of the Act.
However, in apportioning amounts for a fiscal year
under this subsection, the Secretary shall apportion--
(A) for each primary airport at least as much
as would be apportioned for the airport under
subsection (c)(1) of this section; and
(B) a total amount at least equal to the
minimum amount required to be apportioned to
airports in Alaska in the fiscal year ending
September 30, 1980, under section 15(a)(3)(A)
of the Act.
(2) Authority for discretionary grants.--This
subsection does not prohibit the Secretary from making
project grants for airports in Alaska from the
discretionary fund under section 47115 of this title.
(3) Airports eligible for funds.--An amount
apportioned under this subsection may be used for any
public airport in Alaska.
(4) Special rule.--In any fiscal year in which the
total amount made available under section 48103 is
$3,200,000,000 or more, the amount that may be
apportioned for airports in Alaska under paragraph (1)
shall be increased by doubling the amount that would
otherwise be apportioned.
(f) Reducing Apportionments.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (3), an amount
that would be apportioned under this section (except
subsection (c)(2)) in a fiscal year to the sponsor of a
medium or large hub airport for which a charge is
imposed in the fiscal year under section 40117 of this
title shall be reduced by an amount equal to--
(A) in the case of a charge of $3.00 or
less--
(i) except as provided in clause
(ii), 40 percent of the projected
revenues from the charge in the fiscal
year but not by more than 40 percent of
the amount that otherwise would be
apportioned under this section; or
(ii) with respect to an airport in
Hawaii, 40 percent of the projected
revenues from the charge in the fiscal
year but not by more than 40 percent of
the excess of--
(I) the amount that otherwise
would be apportioned under this
section; over
(II) the amount equal to the
amount specified in subclause
(I) multiplied by the
percentage of the total
passenger boardings at the
applicable airport that are
comprised of interisland
passengers; and
(B) in the case of a charge of more than
$3.00--
(i) except as provided in clause
(ii), 60 percent of the projected
revenues from the charge in the fiscal
year but not by more than 60 percent of
the amount that otherwise would be
apportioned under this section; or
(ii) with respect to an airport in
Hawaii, 60 percent of the projected
revenues from the charge in the fiscal
year but not by more than 60 percent of
the excess of--
(I) the amount that otherwise
would be apportioned under this
section; over
(II) the amount equal to the
amount specified in subclause
(I) multiplied by the
percentage of the total
passenger boardings at the
applicable airport that are
comprised of interisland
passengers.
(2) Effective date of reduction.--
(A) New charge collection.--A reduction in an
apportionment under paragraph (1) shall not
take effect until the first fiscal year
following the year in which the collection of
the charge imposed under section 40117 has
begun.
(B) New categorization.--A reduction in an
apportionment under paragraph (1) shall only be
applied to an airport if such airport has been
designated as a medium or large hub airport for
3 consecutive years.
(g) Supplemental Apportionment for Puerto Rico and United
States Territories.--The Secretary shall apportion amounts for
airports in Puerto Rico and all other United States territories
in accordance with this section. This subsection does not
prohibit the Secretary from making project grants for airports
in Puerto Rico or other United States territories from the
discretionary fund under section 47115.
* * * * * * *
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