Metropolitan Washington Airports Transfer Act of 1986

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

26 April 1985

Last action

26 June 1986 · Committee

Status

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Summary

Metropolitan Washington Airports Transfer Act of 1985 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to transfer all authority over the Metropolitan Washington Airports (Washington National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport, including all airport employees) to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (Airports Authority) under the terms of a 35-year lease and operations agreement set forth in this Act. Defines the Airports Authority as a single, independent airport authority to be created by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia for the purpose of operating the Metropolitan Washington Airports. Declares that the Secretary's authority to enter into a lease and agreement for such transfer shall lapse two years after enactment of this Act. Requires that basic lease and acquisition payments be sufficient to repay to the United States the hypothetical indebtedness of the Metropolitan Washington Airports to the Treasury, as determined by the Federal Aviation Administration. Requires the Airports Authority to pay to the Treasury, for deposit to the credit of the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund, certain costs incurred by such Fund due to the transfer of authorities under this Act. Requires that the lease of real property constituting Washington Metropolitan Airports comply with the operation and development of the Washington Metropolitan Airports as a unit and as primary airports serving the Metropolitan Washington area. Requires the Airports Authority to be a public corporate body with powers conferred upon it jointly by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia under specified guidelines which include: (1) operation of Metropolitan Washington Airports for public purposes; (2) independence from the State and local governments of Virginia and the District of Columbia; (3) authority to issue bonds; (4) acquisition of real and personal property; (5) power of eminent domain within the Commonwealth of Virginia; (6) a corporation constituted solely to operate both Metropolitan Washington Airports as primary airports serving the Metropolitan Washington area; and (7) authority to levy fees and enter into agreements. Prescribes the membership and terms of the Airport Authority's board of governors, including the appointment of: (1) five members by the Governor of Virginia; (2) three members by the Mayor of the District of Columbia; (3) two members by the Governor of Maryland; and (4) one member by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. Prescribes the terms and conditions of the lease, including the continued applicability of airport regulations that: (1) the High Density Rule for Washington National Airport may only be amended for safety considerations; and (2) current nighttime noise limitation standards may not be amended. Transfers all rights, liabilities, and obligations of the Metropolitan Washington Airports to the Airports Authority. Retains the responsibility of the Federal Aviation Administration to reimburse the Employees' Compensation Fund. Authorizes the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct periodic audits of the Airports Authority's activities. Grants jurisdiction to U.S. district courts to compel compliance with the lease terms. Sets forth guidelines for the protection of Federal employee interests during the two-year period starting on the date of transfer, including: (1) retention of employees; (2) adoption of pre-transfer labor agreements; (3) credit for accrued annual and sick leave and seniority rights; (4) life and health insurance benefits; and (5) retention of pre-transfer retirement benefits. Confers upon the Airports Authority during the 35-year lease the same proprietary powers and restrictions with respect to Federal law as any other airport. Declares that the Metropolitan Washington Airports qualify as a "public airport" eligible for Federal assistance on the same basis as any comparable public airport operated by a regional authority. Grants the Commonwealth of Virginia concurrent police power authority over the Metropolitan Washington Airports, and grants the Virginia courts jurisdiction over airport land. Makes the authority of the National Capital Planning Commission inapplicable to the Airports Authority, but requires the Airports Authority to consult with such Commission and with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation before undertaking actions which would materially alter either the exterior of the Dulles Terminal or the skyline of Washington National Airport. Provides that title to all real property shall pass to the Airports Authority upon conclusion of the 35-year lease and that at the end of such lease the United States shall relinquish all jurisdiction over the Metropolitan Washington Airports to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Repeals upon lease expiration certain Acts relating to the administration and maintenance of a public airport in the vicinity of the District of Columbia.

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

Timeline

26 April 1985
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Source: IntroReferral
26 April 1985
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
26 June 1985
Committee
Subcommittee on Aviation. Hearings held.
Source: Committee
11 July 1985
Committee
Subcommittee on Aviation. Hearings concluded. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 99-338.
Source: Committee
11 September 1985
Reported
Committee on Commerce. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Source: Committee
20 November 1985
Reported
Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator Danforth with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 99-193. Minority views filed.
Source: Committee
20 November 1985
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 424.
Source: Calendars
20 November 1985
Reported
Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator Danforth with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 99-193. Minority views filed.
Source: Committee
19 March 1986
Floor
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate.
Source: Floor
20 March 1986
Floor
Motion to proceed to consideration of the measure considered in Senate.
Source: Floor
21 March 1986
Floor
Motion to proceed to consideration of the bill considered in Senate.
Source: Floor
24 March 1986
Floor
Second cloture motion on the motion to proceed withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate.
Source: Floor
25 March 1986
Floor
Motion to proceed to the consideration of the bill considered in Senate.
Source: Floor
26 March 1986
Passed
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
Source: Floor
9 April 1986
Floor
Considered by Senate.
Source: Floor
10 April 1986
Floor
Considered by Senate.
Source: Floor
11 April 1986
Vote
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Yea-Nay Vote. 62-28. Record Vote No: 65.
Source: Floor
11 April 1986
Floor
Considered by Senate.
Source: Floor
16 April 1986
Introduced
Referred to House Committee on Public Works and Transportation.
Source: IntroReferral
28 April 1986
Referred
Referred to Subcommittee on Aviation.
Source: Committee
28 April 1986
Committee
Executive Comment Requested from DOT, OMB.
Source: Committee
17 June 1986
Committee
Subcommittee Hearings Held. Hearings printed: H. Hrg. 99-59.
Source: Committee
24 June 1986
Committee
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Source: Committee
26 June 1986
Committee
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Source: Committee

Votes

· Official source

Yes 0 · No 0 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 0

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

3 official files

Passed Senate amended
summary · EN · 11 April 1986
Open at official source
Reported to Senate with amendment(s)
summary · EN · 20 November 1985
Open at official source
Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 26 April 1985
Open at official source

Related records

related to → Metropolitan Washington Airports Transfer Act of 1985

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.

Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/99th-congress/senate-bill/1017
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/99/s/1017
us · 99-s-1017 · source updated 14 January 2025