Wendell H. Ford National Air Transportation System Improvement Act of 1998

Summary

Airport Improvement Program Reauthorization Act of 1998 - Amends Federal aviation law to reauthorize the Airport Improvement Program through FY 1999, with a specified allocation for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Facilities and Equipment Program. (Sec. 5) Authorizes appropriations for FAA operations through FY 1999. (Sec. 6) Makes specified changes to the formula for crediting airport improvement fund amounts to the discretionary fund. Revises the apportionment of airport improvement fund amounts to sponsors of primary airports and to the States for each fiscal year. Authorizes the use of airport improvement funds apportioned to Alaska, Puerto Rico, or Hawaii for any of their public airports. Authorizes the use of State-apportioned airport improvement funds for integrated airport system planning that encompasses one or more primary airports. Increases the apportionment for airport improvement funds for airport noise compatibility programs. Authorizes three percent of such funds to be set-aside for airport security, giving highest priority to the testing and evaluation of explosive detection equipment for airports. Authorizes the use of the supplemental apportionment of airport improvement funds for Alaska for any of its public airports. Repeals a certain limitation on the apportionment of airport improvement funds for commercial service airports in Alaska. Increases from 12 to 14 at any time the number of current or former military airports that may receive airport improvement funds. Revises U.S. policies regarding aviation programs to encourage the funding and use of integrated in-pavement lighting systems for runways and taxiways and other runway and taxiway incursion prevention devices. (Sec. 7) Provides that 20 percent of small airport grant funds be set-aside for each of the next five fiscal years to assist airport sponsors in meeting the safety terms in airport operating certificates. Directs the Secretary of Transportation, whenever making such grants, to notify the grant recipient that the grant's source is from the small airport fund. (Sec. 8) Authorizes the Secretary to approve not more than 20 projects in which airport improvement grant funds may be used to implement innovative financing techniques for airport development projects. (Sec. 9) Declares that the Government's share of costs shall be: (1) not more than 90 percent for airport improvement projects funded under the State block grant program; and (2) 100 percent for airport security projects funded with airport improvement funds. (Sec. 10) Authorizes the Secretary, in order to enable additional air service by an air carrier with less than 12 flights per day at an airport, to consider, when determining what is an allowable terminal development cost, the shell of a terminal building (including heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) and aircraft fueling facilities adjacent to an airport terminal building as nonrevenue-producing public-use areas of the airport meeting certain requirements. (Sec. 11) Makes airport improvement funds available to repay money borrowed to pay the costs for terminal development provided the Secretary decides that repayment will not defer any needed airport development project affecting safety, security, or capacity (currently, any project outside the terminal area at that airport). (Sec. 12) Requires any Federal executive branch department, agency, or instrumentality to grant priority to a request by a public agency (except another Federal executive branch department, agency, or instrumentality) for surplus property for use at a public airport. Authorizes the Secretary to waive, without charge, a term of a gift of an interest in such property after providing notice and an opportunity for public comment and other specified conditions are met. (Sec. 13) Authorizes the Secretary to obligate airport improvement funds and amounts from the airport and airway trust fund for any project to construct a new runway at an international airport. (Sec. 14) Prohibits the Administrator of the FAA from selecting a site for, or beginning construction of, the Potomac Metroplex terminal radar approach control facility in Virginia before the 90th day after a report to the Congress on the relative costs and benefits of constructing the facility on land already owned by the United States (including land located outside the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area). (Sec. 16) Revises the amount of certain funds apportioned to the discretionary and small airport funds. Authorizes the Secretary to distribute specified percentages of funds from the small airport fund for grants for projects at small hub airports, public-use airports, and certain commercial service airports. Declares that an airport development project shall remain eligible for funding from the discretionary fund (subject to the availability of funds) even though the airport's status changes from a primary to a nonprimary airport.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 16 June 1998

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 16 June 1998

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 16 June 1998

   Introduced

   Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 18 June 1998

   Committee

   Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.

   Source: Committee

5. 18 June 1998

   Committee

   Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

   Source: Committee

6. 18 June 1998

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.

   Source: Committee

7. 25 June 1998

   Reported

   Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

   Source: Committee

8. 25 June 1998

   Committee

   Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

   Source: Committee

9. 20 July 1998

   Reported

   Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 105-639.

   Source: Committee

10. 20 July 1998

    Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 359.

    Source: Calendars

11. 20 July 1998

    Reported

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 105-639.

    Source: Committee

12. 4 August 1998

    Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.

    Source: Floor

13. 4 August 1998

    Floor

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7020-7037)

    Source: Floor

14. 4 August 1998

    Floor

    Mr. Shuster moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

    Source: Floor

15. 4 August 1998

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

16. 4 August 1998

    Passed

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

    Source: Floor

17. 4 August 1998

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

    Source: Floor

18. 31 August 1998

    Introduced

    Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 536.

    Source: Calendars

19. 24 September 1998

    Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S10913)

    Source: Floor

20. 25 September 1998

    ResolvingDifferences

    Senate insists on its amendment asks for a conference, appoints conferees McCain; Stevens; Gorton; Hollings; Ford. (consideration: CR S10967)

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

21. 25 September 1998

    Floor

    Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S10945-10969)

    Source: Floor

22. 25 September 1998

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate in lieu of S. 2279 with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 92-1. Record Vote No: 288.

    Source: Floor

23. 28 September 1998

    Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

    Source: Floor

Votes

Versions

• Engrossed Amendment Senate · 25 September 1998 · Official file
• Placed on Calendar Senate · 31 August 1998 · Official file
• Engrossed in House · 4 August 1998 · Official file
• Reported in House · 20 July 1998 · Official file
• Introduced in House · 16 June 1998 · Official file

Documents

12 official files

• Engrossed Amendment Senate (text)

  Engrossed Amendment Senate · EN · 25 September 1998

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Engrossed Amendment Senate (PDF)

  Engrossed Amendment Senate · EN · 25 September 1998

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Passed Senate amended

  summary · EN · 25 September 1998

  Open at official source

• Placed on Calendar Senate (text)

  Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 31 August 1998

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Placed on Calendar Senate (PDF)

  Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 31 August 1998

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Engrossed in House (text)

  Engrossed in House · EN · 4 August 1998

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Engrossed in House (PDF)

  Engrossed in House · EN · 4 August 1998

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Reported in House (text)

  Reported in House · EN · 20 July 1998

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Reported in House (PDF)

  Reported in House · EN · 20 July 1998

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN · 16 June 1998

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House (PDF)

  Introduced in House · EN · 16 June 1998

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 16 June 1998

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Rep. Shuster, Bud [R-PA-9] · R · Sponsor
• JOHN DUNCAN · R · Sponsor
• · hspw00 · Standing

Related records

• related to → To amend title 49, United States Code, to require the installation of the collision avoidance system known as TCAS-II on large cargo aircraft.
• related to → Alaska Air Guide Regulations Act of 1998
• related to → Airport Safety Act
• related to ← Wendell H. Ford National Air Transportation System Improvement Act of 1998