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[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1786 Referred in House (RFH)]

109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1786

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 29, 2005

     Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

 
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.

    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 (c) 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.

            Passed the Senate September 28, 2005.

            Attest:

                                             EMILY J. REYNOLDS,

                                                             Secretary.
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