Vision 100--Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act

Bill: 108-hr-2115
Sponsor: Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large]
Introduced: 2003-05-15 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Access to airports
Administrative procedure
Advice and consent of the Senate
Air cargo
Air piracy
Air pollution control
Air routes
Air traffic
Aircraft construction
Aircraft engines
Aircraft industry
Aircraft pilots
Airline employees
Airline passenger traffic
Airlines
Airports
Alaska
Alternative dispute resolution
Alternative energy sources
Antitrust law
Arizona
Armed Forces and National Security
Auditing
Authorization
Aviation fuels
Aviation insurance
Aviation safety
Building laws
Buy American
Charter airlines
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Civil actions and liability
Civil service retirement
Commerce
Compensation (Law)
Competition
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Construction costs
Consultants
Consumer complaints
Consumer discounts
Consumer education
Cost effectiveness
Counterfeiting
Decision making
Department of Transportation
Disciplining of employees
Discrimination in employment
Dismissal of employees
District courts
District of Columbia
Economics and Public Finance
Electric vehicles
Electronic data interchange
Electronic government information
Emergency Management
Employee training
Employee-management relations in government
Employment tests
Energy
Environmental Protection
Environmental assessment
Evidence (Law)
Executive reorganization
Explosives
Families
Family services
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to air pollution control
Federal aid to transportation
Federal employees
Federal-state relations
Fees
Finance and Financial Sector
Fines (Penalties)
Flight crews
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Fraud
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government insurance
Government paperwork
Government procurement
Government publicity
Government travel
Government trust funds
Governmental investigations
Grievance procedures
Gulf of Mexico
Helicopters
Housing and Community Development
Imports
Indoor air pollution
Industrial arbitration
Infrastructure
International Affairs
Iraq
Iraq compilation
Islands
Judicial review
Jurisdiction
Labor and Employment
Land transfers
Land use
Law
Leases
Liability (Law)
Licenses
Maintenance and repair
Maps
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Maryland
Mediation
Middle East and North Africa
Military aircraft
Military aviation
Military base closures
Military personnel
Motor vehicle pollution control
National parks
Natural gas vehicles
Navigation (Aeronautics)
Navigational aids (Aeronautics)
Newspapers
Noise
Ombudsman
Ozone
Pacific area
Parking facilities
Presidential appointments
Presidential commissions
Private aviation
Privatization
Product counterfeiting
Products liability
Property insurance
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Punitive damages
Reinsurance
Science, Technology, Communications
Security measures
September 11, 2001
Small business
Small towns
Steel
Subcontractors
Subsidies
Surveys
Taxicabs
Technological innovations
Technology transfer
Territories (U.S.)
Terrorism
Tourism
Transportation planning
Transportation rates
Transportation workers
Travel agents
Travel costs
User charges
Victims
Virginia
War
Waste in government spending
Water pollution control
Water quality
Weather forecasting
Web sites
Whistle blowing
Zoning and zoning law

Summary:
action_date: 2003-05-15
text: Flight 100--Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act - Amends Federal transportation law to authorize appropriations for FY 2004 through 2007 for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), including: (1) air navigation facilities and equipment; and (2) airport and noise compatibility planning and development. Extends the current authority of the Secretary of Transportation to provide air carrier insurance and reinsurance through calendar 2007, after which limits are imposed.
Airport Streamlining Approval Process Act of 2003 - Directs the Secretary to develop and implement a coordinated review process for airport capacity enhancement projects at congested airports.
Directs the FAA Administrator to convert the Air Traffic Services Subcommittee of the Federal Aviation Management Advisory Council into an independent Air Traffic Services Board.
Establishes in the FAA a Small Business Ombudsman.
Revises requirements with respect to airline service improvements, involving among other things: (1) data on incidents and complaints involving passenger and baggage security screening; (2) conversion of ground support equipment or airport-owned vehicles to low-emission technology; (3) the passenger facility fee program; (4) overflights of national parks; (5) a collaborative decision-making pilot program; (6) availability of aircraft accident site information; (7) slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport; (8) small community air service and the essential air service program, including a community and regional choice alternate essential air service pilot program; (9) action for de novo review in U.S. district court of a discrimination complaint by an employee providing air safety information; (10) agreements to permit use of type certificates by other persons; (11) design organization certificates; (12) runway safety standards; (13) availability of maintenance information; (14) flight attendant certification; (15) a civil penalty for closure of an airport without providing sufficient notice; (16) improvement of curriculum standards for aviation maintenance technicians; (17) a task force on future of air transportation system; (18) air quality in aircraft cabins; (19) a task force on enhanced transfer of applications of technology for military aircraft to civilian aircraft; (20) reimbursement for losses incurred by general aviation entities; (21) impasse procedures for national association of air traffic specialists; (22) FAA inspector training; (23) a prohibition on air traffic control privatization; and (24) reduced airfares for members of the Armed Forces on commercial U.S. flights.
Revises requirements relating to airport development and involving among other things: (1) security costs at small airports; (2) runway safety areas; (3) proceeds from disposition of land acquired for noise compatibility purposes; (4) hangar construction grant assurances; (5) costs of construction or modification of public parking facilities for security purposes; (6) formulae for apportionments to primary airports and cargo airports; (7) considerations in making discretionary grants; (8) flexible funding for nonprimary airport apportionments; (9) use of apportioned amounts for noise mitigation projects; (10) increased funding for the military airport program and air traffic control contract towers; (11) 100 percent Federal share of the cost of airport safety data collection by a private contractor; (12) the use of revenues in the airport privatization pilot program; (13) further limitations on innovative financing techniques for airport development projects; (14) emission credits for air quality projects and an airport ground support equipment emissions retrofit pilot program; (15) compatible land use planning and projects by State and local governments; and (16) funding for Midway Island Airport.
action_date: 2003-06-11
text: 
Flight 100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act - 
Title I: Authorizations
 - (Sec. 101) Amends Federal transportation law to authorize appropriations for FY 2004 through 2007 for: (1) the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); (2) air navigation facilities and equipment; (3) airport and noise compatibility planning and development; (4) the contracting of air traffic control services at Level I air traffic control towers under the air traffic control program; (5) the regional air service incentive program to provide assistance to improve jet aircraft service to underserved markets; and (6) the funding of various aviation programs from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund and the General Fund of the Treasury.
 
Earmarks FAA operations funds for: (1) the Center for Management Development of the FAA to operate at least 200 courses each year and to support associated student travel for both residential and field courses; (2) establishment of the Next Generation Air Transportation System Joint Program Office to develop, in coordination with other specified entities, the next generation air traffic management system; (3) establishment of helicopter and tiltrotor approach and departure procedures using advanced technologies to permit operations in adverse weather conditions to meet the needs of air ambulance services; (4) the hiring of additional air traffic controllers; (5) completion of the Alaska aviation safety project with respect to the three dimensional mapping of Alaska's main aviation corridors; (6) an Aviation Safety Reporting System; and (7) the gathering of airline data and its analysis in the Bureau of Transportation Statistics of the Department of Transportation (DOT).
 
Directs the Administrator of the FAA (Administrator) to develop a comprehensive human capital workforce strategy to determine the most effective method for addressing the need for more air traffic controllers called for in the June 2002 report of the General Accounting Office. Requires the Administrator to report to Congress on the long-term goals and objectives of the Aviation Safety Reporting System, including how it interrelates with other safety reporting systems of the Federal Government.
 
(Sec. 102) Earmarks air navigation facilities and equipment funds to: (1) enhance safety and security for aircraft operations in the Gulf of Mexico; (2) document and demonstrate the operational benefits of a wake vortex advisory system; and (3) establish a program for the installation of a closed-loop precision approach aid designed to improve aircraft accessibility at mountainous airports with limited land.
 
(Sec. 104) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 through 2008 for the small community air service development pilot program to improve air carrier service to airports not receiving sufficient air carrier service.
 
Extends through FY 2007 the authority of: (1) the Administrator to carry out a pilot program of awards of design-build contracts for certain airport projects; and (2) the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) to approve an application of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority for an airport development project grant, or to impose a passenger facility fee.
 
(Sec. 105) Extends the current authority of the Secretary to provide air carrier insurance and reinsurance through calendar year 2007. Limits the insurance and reinsurance the Secretary may provide after December 31, 2007, to: (1) the operation of domestic or foreign air carriers in foreign air commerce or between at least two points, all of which are outside the United States; and (2) insurance obtained by a Federal agency or instrumentality.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to extend to the U.S. manufacturer of the aircraft of the air carrier involved the limitation of $100 million in liability for third party claims arising out of acts of terrorism, as well as immunity from punitive damages. Makes the Federal Government responsible for any liability above $100 million.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to apply any air carrier insurance provisions to a loss by a vendor, agent, and subcontractor of an aircraft used by an air carrier, but only to the extent that the loss involved one of the carrier's aircraft.
 
(Sec. 106) Authorizes the Administrator, in order to test the cost-effectiveness and feasibility of long-term financing of modernization of major air traffic control systems, to establish a pilot program to test innovative financing techniques through amending a contract of more than one, but not more than 20, fiscal years to purchase and install terminal automation replacement systems for the FAA. Directs the Administrator to report to specified congressional committees with respect to the pilot program. Authorizes appropriations.
 

Title II: Airport Project Streamlining
 - Airport Streamlining Approval Process Act of 2003 - (Sec. 203) Amends Federal transportation law to direct the Administrator to take action to encourage the construction of airport capacity enhancement projects at congested airports.
 
(Sec. 204) Directs the Secretary to develop and implement a coordinated review process for such projects, which shall provide that all environmental reviews, analyses, opinions, permits, licenses, and approvals that must be issued or made by a Federal agency or airport sponsor for such a project will be conducted concurrently in cooperation with all Federal and State agencies with jurisdiction over environmental-related matters.
 
Requires: (1) the Secretary to determine the reasonable alternatives to an airport capacity enhancement project at a congested airport; and (2) any other participating Federal or State agency to consider only those alternatives the Secretary has determined are reasonable.
 
Authorizes the Secretary, at the request of an airport sponsor for a congested airport, to approve a restriction on use of a runway to be constructed at the airport to minimize potentially significant adverse noise impacts from the runway only if the restriction is necessary and the most appropriate and cost-effective measure (taking into consideration associated environmental tradeoffs) to mitigate such impacts and expedite runway construction.
 
Authorizes the Secretary, in specified circumstances, to allow an airport sponsor carrying out such a project to make payments, out of airport revenues (including local taxes on aviation fuel), for measures to mitigate the environmental impacts of the project, including aircraft noise.
 
Permits the Administrator to accept funds from an airport sponsor to hire additional staff or obtain the services of consultants in order to facilitate the timely processing, review, and completion of environmental activities associated with an airport development project.
 
Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 and for each succeeding year to facilitate timely processing, review, and completion of environmental activities associated with airport capacity enhancement projects at congested airports.
 
Authorizes the Administrator to designate an aviation safety or aviation security project for priority environmental review. Requires the Administrator to establish specific timelines for the coordinated environmental review of an aviation safety or aviation security project.
 
(Sec. 205) Repeals the requirement that the Secretary approve a project grant application only if the chief executive officer of the State in which the project will be located certifies that there is reasonable assurance that the project will be located, designed, constructed, and operated in compliance with applicable air and water quality standards.
 
Revises the approval criteria without the requirement of an environmental impact statement for an airport development project that does not involve the location of an airport or runway, or a major runway extension, at an existing airport. Allows such a project without an environmental impact statement if completing the project would allow airport operations involving aircraft complying with the noise standards prescribed for &quot;stage 3&quot; aircraft (currently &quot;stage 2&quot; aircraft).
 
(Sec. 206) Authorizes the Secretary to incur obligations to make grants to an operator of a congested airport and a specified unit of local government to carry out a project to mitigate noise in the area surrounding the airport, if the project is included as a commitment in an FAA record of decision for an airport capacity enhancement project, even if that airport has not met certain regulatory requirements.
 

Title III: Federal Aviation Reform
 - (Sec. 302) Directs the Administrator to convert the Air Traffic Services Subcommittee of the Federal Aviation Management Advisory Council into an independent Air Traffic Services Board.
 
(Sec. 304) Establishes in the FAA a Small Business Ombudsman who shall, among other things, be consulted when the Administrator proposes regulations that may affect small businesses in the aviation industry.
 
(Sec. 305) Directs the Administrator to take appropriate actions to implement recommendations contained in the report of the General Accounting Office entitled &quot;FAA Purchase Cards: Weak Controls Resulted in Instances of Improper and Wasteful Purchases and Missing Assets,&quot; numbered GAO-03-405 and dated March 21, 2003.
 
 
Title IV: Airline Service Improvements
 - (Sec. 401) Amends Federal transportation law with respect to the Secretary's duty to collect and disseminate information on civil aeronautics to repeal the prohibition against the Secretary's requiring an air carrier to provide information on the number of passengers or the amount of cargo on solely nonessential interstate flights.
 
(Sec. 402) Directs the Secretary to publish data on incidents and complaints involving passenger and baggage security screening in a manner comparable to other consumer complaint and incident data. Authorizes the Secretary, in order to assist in the publication of such information, to request the Secretary of Homeland Security to report periodically on the number of complaints about security screening received by the Secretary of Homeland Security.
 
(Sec. 404) Revises the duties of the Administrator to eliminate authority with respect to the noncompetitive procurement of property or services by the FAA.
 
Directs the Administrator to develop and implement an acquisition management system for the FAA that at a minimum provides for: (1) the more timely and cost-effective acquisition, among other things, of services and property; and (2) the resolution of bid protests and contract disputes related to such acquisitions, using consensual alternative dispute resolution techniques to the maximum extent practicable. Requires a bid protest or contract dispute that is not addressed or resolved through alternative dispute resolution to be adjudicated by the Administrator through Dispute Resolution Officers or Special Masters of the FAA Office of Dispute Resolution for Acquisition. Declares that the Administrator is the final authority with respect to the acquisition of services for the FAA.
 
(Sec. 405) Revises the definition of &quot;eligible airport-related project&quot; which is financed through the imposition by the Secretary of a passenger facility fee to include a project for the acquisition or conversion of ground support equipment or airport-owned vehicles used at a commercial service airport with, or to, low-emission technology or cleaner burning conventional fuels, or the retrofitting of such equipment or vehicles that are powered by a diesel or gasoline engine with emission control technologies certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce emissions, provided the airport is located in an air quality nonattainment area or a maintenance area (maintenance of the national primary ambient air quality standard for an air pollutant in a nonattainment area for at least ten years after the redesignation of such area for such air pollutant), and provided such project will result in an airport receiving appropriate emission credits. Limits the maximum cost that may be financed by imposition of a passenger facility fee for such low-emission technology projects.
 
(Sec. 406) Revises certain passenger facility fee requirements to provide that an eligible agency seeking to impose a passenger facility fee that provides notice and an opportunity for consultation to an air carrier or foreign air carrier is deemed to have satisfied certain passenger facility fee application requirements if such agency limits such notices and consultations to domestic and foreign air carriers that have a significant business interest at an airport. (Defines significant business interest as having no less than one percent of passenger boardings at the airport in the prior calendar year, having had at least 25,000 passenger boardings at the airport in the prior calendar year, or providing scheduled service at the airport.) Requires an eligible agency to provide reasonable notice and an opportunity for public comment before submitting an application to the Secretary. Changes from mandatory to discretionary the authority of the Secretary, after receiving an application, to provide notice and an opportunity to domestic and foreign air carriers and other interested persons to comment on the application.
 
Establishes a pilot program to test alternative procedures for authorizing eligible agencies for nonhub airports to impose passenger facility fees. Authorizes an eligible agency to impose a passenger facility fee at a nonhub airport. Sets forth program requirements, including requiring the eligible agency to provide reasonable notice and an opportunity for consultation to domestic and foreign air carriers, and to provide reasonable notice and opportunity for public comment.
 
Prohibits the collection of a passenger facility fee from a passenger enplaning at an airport from a military charter flight.
 
Requires the Administrator to publish in the Federal Register the current Administration policy with respect to the eligibility of airport ground access transportation projects for the use of passenger facility fees.
 
 (Sec. 407) Requires passenger facility revenue held by an air carrier to be segregated from the carrier's cash and other assets and placed in an escrow account for the benefit of the eligible agency entitled to such revenue. Prohibits an air carrier from granting to a third party any security or other interest in such revenue. Entitles an air carrier that collects passenger facility fees to receive interest on passenger facility fee accounts.
 
(Sec. 408) Revises the prohibition against requirement of a contractor certification or a contract clause in the case of a contract for the transportation of commercial items in order to implement a requirement relating to Government-financed air transportation. Excludes from the meaning of commercial item any contract for the air transportation of passengers.
 
(Sec. 409) Prohibits the Administrator from restricting commercial Special Flight Rules Area operations in the Dragon and Zuni Point corridors of the Grand Canyon National Park during the period beginning one hour after sunrise and ending one hour before sunset, unless required for aviation safety. Bars commercial Special Flight Rules Area operations from taking place in such corridors during the period beginning one hour before sunset and ending one hour after sunrise.
 
(Sec. 410) Establishes a collaborative decisionmaking pilot program whereby the Administrator, upon a determination that a capacity reduction event exists, may authorize domestic and foreign air carriers operating at the most capacity-constrained airports to communicate for a period not to exceed 24 hours with each other concerning changes in their flight schedules in order to use air traffic capacity most effectively.
 
(Sec. 411) Requires domestic and foreign air carriers to submit certain plans that address the needs of the families of passengers involved in an aircraft accident that results in a major loss of life, including at a minimum, among other things, assurances that the air carrier: (1) in the case of an accident that results in significant damage to nongovernmental property on the ground, provide notice, in writing, directly to the owner of the property about liability and compensation for the damaged property; and (2) in the case of an accident in which the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducts a public hearing at a location greater than 80 miles from the accident site, will ensure that the proceeding is made available simultaneously by electronic means to the public at both the origin city and destination city of the air carrier's flight if that city is located in the United States.
 
(Sec. 412) Increases the number of: (1) slot exemptions the Secretary may grant to air carriers to operate limited frequencies and aircraft on select routes between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and domestic hub airports, and exemptions from requirements prohibiting nonstop flights between such airport and another airport more than 1,250 miles away (beyond-perimeter rule) and limiting flights between medium or smaller airports and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to no more than 1,250 miles away (within-perimeter rule). Increases the number of within-perimeter exemptions that may be granted to air carriers for air transportation between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and small hub airports and nonhub airports and medium hub and smaller airports.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) identify airports (other than Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport) that have imposed perimeter rules like those in effect for Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport; and (2) study and report to Congress on the effect that perimeter rules for such airports have on competition and on air service to communities outside the perimeter.
 
Repeals certain requirements limiting the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority to apply for an airport development project grant or to impose a passenger facility fee.
 
(Sec. 413) Requires an air carrier providing air passenger transportation to display a notice on a placard available to each passenger that informs such passenger of the nation in which the aircraft was assembled.
 
(Sec. 414) Authorizes an operator of a turbine powered or multiengine piston powered aircraft with ten passenger seats or less to provide at a negotiated price air transportation between a nonhub airport and another airport or between a noncommercial service airport and another airport in order to promote air service to small communities.
 
(Sec. 415) Permits that portion of compensation to air carriers that is used to promote public use of small community air service or transportation to be paid directly to the unit of local government having jurisdiction over the eligible place (small community) served by the air carrier.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to increase the rates of compensation to small community air service air carriers that experience significantly increased costs (an average monthly cost increase of ten percent or more) in providing such transportation without regard to any agreement or requirement regarding the renegotiation of contracts or notice requirements.
 
Requires the Secretary, in selecting communities for participation in a certain pilot program for improving air carrier service to airports not receiving sufficient air carrier service, to give priority to communities where assistance for such improvement can be used in the fiscal year in which it is received.
 
Authorizes additional appropriations for each fiscal year to carry out the essential air service program for small communities, including amounts to hire four additional employees for the office responsible for carrying out such program.
 
Requires the Secretary to notify a community that the essential air service subsidy will cease to be provided to an air carrier providing such service to the community because the community does not meet certain eligibility requirements.
 
Exempts an air carrier from certain renewable 30-day service continuation requirements if it commences air transportation to an eligible place that is not receiving essential air service as a result of failure to meet requirements in an appropriations Act.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish an alternative essential air service pilot program in which compensation for the service is paid directly to the local government of the community instead of to the air carrier.
 
Specifies the highway mileage of the most commonly used route as the highway mileage between a place and the nearest hub airport for purposes of the prohibition against provision of an essential air service subsidy to places within the 48 contiguous States that fail to meet certain requirements for distance from the nearest hub airport.
 
(Sec. 416) Provides for agreements allowing the holder of a type certificate to permit another person to use the certificate to manufacture a new aircraft, aircraft engine, propeller, or appliance.
 
Requires the Secretary to spend as much time and perform a no-less-thorough review in certifying or validating the certification of new aircraft, aircraft engine, propeller, or appliance manufactured in a foreign nation as the regulatory authorities of that nation employ when certifying similar items manufactured in the United States.
 
(Sec. 417) Authorizes the Administrator, beginning seven years after enactment of this Act, to issue design organization certificates to design organizations that meet certain safety standards for the design and manufacture of aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, and appliances.
 
(Sec. 418) Prohibits the Administrator from issuing a certificate (type certificate, production certificate, airworthiness certificate, and design organization certificate) to a person whose certificate is revoked due to counterfeiting or fraud offenses.
 
(Sec. 419) Declares that airport owners or operators shall not be required to reduce the length of a runway or declare the length of a runway to be less than the actual pavement length in order to meet FAA standards applicable to runway safety areas.
 
(Sec. 420) Requires the Administrator to continue in effect the requirement that the holder of a design approval furnish certain airworthiness information to the owner of each type of aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller and certain other required persons.
 
(Sec. 421) Directs the Administrator to issue an order amending, modifying, suspending, or revoking any part of a certificate if notified by the Department of Homeland Security that the certificate holder poses, or is suspected of posing, a risk of air piracy or terrorism or a threat to airline or passenger safety. Provides for appeals of such an order.
 
(Sec. 422) Prohibits a person from serving as a flight attendant unless such person holds a certificate of demonstrated proficiency from the Administrator.
 
(Sec. 423) Prohibits a public agency from closing an airport without providing written notice to the Administrator at least 30 days before the closure. Establishes a civil penalty of $10,000 per day of closure without notice.
 
(Sec. 424) Requires an airport operator to submit to the Secretary any revised noise exposure map showing any new noncompatible use or noise reduction.
 
(Sec. 425) Excludes from the savings provisions of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act its amendment to the General Fee Schedule Provision of Federal transportation law which requires the Administrator to ensure that FAA service fees are reasonably (instead of directly) related to the Administration's costs of providing the service rendered, as determined by the Administrator (in a determination not subject to judicial review). (Thus removes from judicial review any determination of reasonable fees which would otherwise have been subjected to it under the savings provisions.)
 
 (Sec. 426) Directs the Administrator to ensure that certain training standards for airframe and powerplant mechanics are updated and revised to reflect current technology and maintenance practices.
 
(Sec. 427) Directs the President to establish a task force to work with the Next Generation Air Transportation System Joint Program Office to develop, and submit to Congress, a plan outlining the overall strategy, schedule, and resources needed to develop and deploy the Nation's next generation air traffic control system and air transportation system.
 
(Sec. 428) Directs the Administrator to: (1) undertake the studies and analysis called for in the report of the National Research Council entitled &quot;The Airliner Cabin Environment and the Health of Passengers and Crew&quot; with respect to the air quality in aircraft cabins; and (2) report the results to Congress. 
 
(Sec. 429) Directs the Secretary to report to Congress on any actions that should be taken with respect to recommendations made by the National Commission to Ensure Consumer Information and Choice in the Airline Industry on: (1) the travel agent arbiter program; and (2) the special box on tickets for agents to include their service fee charges.
 
(Sec. 430) Directs the President to establish a task force to look for better methods for ensuring that technology developed for military aircraft is more quickly and easily transferred to applications for improving and modernizing the fleet of civilian aircraft.
 
(Sec. 431) Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to reimburse specified general aviation entities for security costs incurred and revenue lost as a result of the restrictions imposed by the Federal Government following the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, or the military action to free the people of Iraq that commenced in March 2003. Authorizes appropriations.
 
(Sec. 432) Directs the FAA and the exclusive bargaining representative of the National Association of Air Traffic Specialists to submit their unresolved issues due to their failure to achieve agreement through the mediation process of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to the Federal Service Impasses Panel for final and binding resolution.
 
(Sec. 433) Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to specified congressional committees on the training of FAA aviation safety inspectors. Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that FAA inspectors should be provided with the most up-to-date training on the latest aviation technologies.
 
Directs the Administrator to make appropriate arrangements for the National Academy of Sciences to study and report to Congress on the assumptions and methods the FAA uses to estimate staffing standards for FAA inspectors to ensure proper oversight over the aviation industry, including the designee program.
 
(Sec. 434) Prohibits the Secretary from authorizing the transfer of the FAA air traffic separation and control functions (except a FAA air traffic control tower operated under the contract tower program) to a private entity or to a public entity other than the U.S. Government.
 
(Sec. 435) Expresses the sense of Congress that U.S. air carriers should: (1) establish for all Armed Forces members reduced air fares comparable to the lowest airfare for ticketed flights; and (2) offer flexible terms that allow such active duty members to purchase, modify, or cancel tickets without time restrictions, fees, and penalties.
 
(Sec. 436) Amends the Aviation and Transportation Security Act to extend the requirement that an air carrier that provides scheduled air transportation on a route provide, to the extent practicable, air transportation to passengers ticketed for air transportation on that route by any other carrier that suspends, interrupts, or discontinues air passenger service on that route because of insolvency or bankruptcy of the other carrier.
 
(Sec. 437) Directs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on the feasibility of the United States hosting a world-class international air show.
 
(Sec. 438) Defines &quot;air traffic controller&quot; or &quot;controller&quot; for purposes of the payment into the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS). 
 
(Sec. 439) Directs the Administrator, if an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) (a no-fly zone around Washington, D.C., extended from the current 15-mile radius up to 38 miles) is established, to report to specified congressional committees explaining the need for it.
 
(Sec. 440) Expresses the sense of Congress that, in an effort to modernize its regulations, DOT should formally define &quot;Fifth Freedom&quot; and &quot;Seventh Freedom&quot; consistently for both scheduled and charter passenger and cargo traffic.
 
 (Sec. 441) Directs the Secretary, subject to the availability of funds, to reimburse air carriers and airports for certain screening and related activities.
 
(Sec. 442) Expresses the sense of Congress that Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport should be open to general aviation flights as soon as possible.
 
(Sec. 443) Revises charter airlines requirements to prohibit an air carrier (including an indirect air carrier) from providing, in aircraft designed for more than nine passenger seats, regularly scheduled charter air transportation, for which the public is provided in advance a schedule containing the departure location, departure time, and arrival location of the flight, to or from an airport with an airport operating certificate if it is a reliever airport located within 20 nautical miles of three or more airports that annually account for at least one percent of the total U.S. passenger enplanements and at least two of which are operated by the reliever airport's sponsor. Authorizes the Secretary to waive such requirements if it is in the public interest.
 
(Sec. 444) Directs the Secretary to issue regulations to implement certain noise standards, consistent with the recommendations adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
 
(Sec. 445) Revises certain airline crew training requirements to require passenger air carriers to carry out an approved training program for flight and cabin crew members to prepare them for potential threat conditions. Sets forth certain program requirements.
 
(Sec. 446) Directs the Comptroller General to review the criteria used by the Air Transportation Stabilization Board to compensate air carriers following the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, with a particular focus on whether it is appropriate to compensate air carriers for the decrease in value of their aircraft after such date.
 
(Sec. 447) Directs the Administrator to report to Congress on whether, in light of the demands of business in Alaska, it would be appropriate to permit operation of an aircraft (not involving common carriage) in which the operator organizes an entity whose only purpose is to provide air transportation of persons and property related to the business entity and the charge for such transportation does not exceed the cost of owning, operating, and maintaining the aircraft.
 

Title V: Airport Development - 
(Sec. 502) Requires funding of the replacement of baggage conveyor systems, and reconfiguration of terminal baggage areas, at public-use airports in order to install bulk explosive detection devices to use only amounts apportioned for airport planning and development and noise compatibility planning and programs.
 
(Sec. 503) Makes eligible for airport development project funds in FY 2004 the direct costs incurred by operators of nonhub airports or nonprimary airports with respect to new, additional, or revised security requirements imposed on airport operators by law on or after September 11, 2001, if the Government's share of costs is paid from amounts apportioned to a sponsor for such programs.
 
 (Sec. 504) Requires the Secretary to follow certain procedures with respect to the granting of approval of an airport development project grant application if the Secretary withholds a grant to an airport from the discretionary fund or from the small airport fund on the grounds that the airport sponsor has violated an assurance or requirement with respect to such project.
 
(Sec. 505) Authorizes the Secretary to approve an application for an airport development project grant to construct, reconstruct, repair, or improve a runway only if the Secretary receives written assurances that the airport sponsor will undertake, to the maximum extent practical, improvement of the airport runway's safety area to meet FAA standards.
 
(Sec. 506) Revises requirements for satisfactory written assurances an airport owner or operator must give the Secretary about the acquisition of land for a noise compatibility purpose in order to have an airport development grant approved. Revises, in particular, the requirement that the owner or operator will dispose of the land at fair market value at the earliest practicable time after the land no longer is needed for a noise compatibility purpose, and that part of the proceeds from such disposal proportional to the Government's share of the cost of acquiring the land will either be paid to the Secretary for deposit in the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, or reinvested in an approved noise compatibility project. Includes as a proper reinvestment the purchase of nonresidential buildings or property in the vicinity of residential buildings or property previously purchased by an airport as part of a noise compatibility program.
 
(Sec. 507) Authorizes the Secretary to approve an airport development project grant application only if the Secretary receives satisfactory written assurances that, if an airport owner or operator and an aircraft owner agree that a hangar is to be constructed at an airport for the aircraft at the aircraft owner's expense, the airport owner or operator will grant the aircraft owner a long-term lease of not less than 50 years for the hangar.
 
 (Sec. 508) Declares that the cost of constructing or modifying a public parking facility for passenger automobiles to comply with a regulation or directive of the Department of Homeland Security shall be treated as an allowable airport development project cost. Authorizes the Secretary with respect to an airport that is not a medium hub airport or large hub airport to determine that allowable airport development project costs include payments of interest, commercial bond insurance, and other credit enhancement costs associated with a bond issue to finance such project.
 
(Sec. 509) Makes certain formula changes with respect to the calculation of the apportionment of airport planning and development and noise compatibility planning and program funds to sponsors of primary airports and cargo only airports.
 
(Sec. 511) Revises factors the Secretary must consider in selecting a project for a discretionary grant to preserve and improve airport capacity. Sets forth certain other factors that must be considered in selecting an airport development project for a discretionary grant, including whether: (1) funding has been approved for all other projects qualifying for funding during the fiscal year that have attained a higher score under the numerical priority system employed by the Secretary in administering the discretionary fund; and (2) the airport sponsor will be able to commence the work identified in the project application in the fiscal year in which the grant is made, or within six months afterwards, whichever is later.
 
(Sec. 512) Extends the availability for any public-use airport in the national plan of integrated airport systems of apportioned airport planning and development and noise compatibility planning and program funds to sponsors of cargo only airports and of reliever or nonprimary commercial service airports (as well as primary airports). Authorizes the sponsor of such an airport (like the sponsor of a primary airport, as under current law) to make an agreement with the Secretary waiving the sponsor's claim to any part of the apportioned funds for the airport if the Secretary agrees to make the waived amount available for a grant for another public-use airport in the same State or geographical area as the airport.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to decide that the costs of revenue producing aeronautical support facilities (including fuel farms and hangars) are allowable costs payable by the Government for an airport development project at a nonprimary airport if: (1) the Government's share of such costs is paid only with funds apportioned to the sponsor of a reliever and nonprimary commercial service airport; and (2) the sponsor has made adequate provision for financing airside needs of the airport.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to make any part of airport planning and development and noise compatibility planning and program funds apportioned to a sponsor of a nonprimary airport available to pay the costs for terminal development at such airport.
 
(Sec. 513) Sets forth the period of availability of airport planning and development and noise compatibility planning and program funds apportioned to sponsors of nonhub airport or nonprimary commercial service airports.
 
Requires the Secretary to use at least 34 percent of amounts available to the discretionary fund for each fiscal year for certain grants (as under current law), but including grants: (1) to carry out noise compatibility programs for noise mitigation projects approved in an environmental record of decision for an airport development project; (2) for compatible land use planning and projects carried by State and local governments; and (3) for airport development projects to comply with the Clean Air Act.
 
Repeals the requirement that a certain amount of such funds be set-aside for grants to sponsors of super reliever airports.
 
Requires that, if an appropriations Act limits grant obligation amounts, canceled or reduced airport planning and development and noise compatibility planning and program funds shall be treated as negative obligations to be netted against the obligation limitation, and thus permit any obligation limitation on such funds to be exceeded by an equal amount.
 
 (Sec. 514) Increases the availability of funds from the discretionary fund each year to sponsors of current or former military airports to improve or repair terminal building facilities, or to construct, improve, or repair certain airport surface parking lots, fuel farms, and utilities, and hangars and air cargo terminals at such airports.
 
(Sec. 515) Revises requirements regarding the repayment of money borrowed for terminal development costs incurred by a an airport sponsor to make airport planning and development and noise compatibility planning and program funds available for grants to a sponsor of a commercial service airport, a nonhub airport, and primary airport to repay immediately money borrowed and used to pay the costs for terminal development that occurs at such airports during a specified period and that qualify as an allowable project cost. Sets forth certain grant requirements.
 
(Sec. 516) Continues the low activity (Visual Flight Rules) level I air traffic control tower contract program for towers existing on enactment of this Act (currently, December 30, 1987).
 
Converts the Contract Air Traffic Control Tower Pilot Program into the Contract Air Traffic Control Tower Program (ending its pilot or temporary status).
 
Increases the maximum Federal share of costs of construction of a nonapproach control tower under the program from $1.1 million to no more than $1.5 million.
 
(Sec. 517) Revises current authority to authorize the Administrator to enter into a cooperative agreement with, or provide a grant from airport planning and development and noise compatibility planning and program funds to, a private company for the collection of airport safety data. Makes the Federal share of cost of the data collection 100 percent.
 
(Sec. 518) Revises requirements regarding an airport sponsor's sale or long term lease of a general aviation or other type airport to a private person to authorize the Secretary to approve a sponsor's application for an exemption from certain assurances regarding the use of airport revenues to the extent necessary to permit the sponsor to recover from such sale or lease an amount as may be approved: (1) in the case of a primary airport, by at least 65 percent of the scheduled air carriers serving the airport (currently, by at least 65 percent of the air carriers serving the airport), and by scheduled and nonscheduled air carriers whose aircraft landing at the airport during the preceding calendar year, had a total landed weight during the preceding calendar year of at least 65 percent of the total landed weight of all aircraft landing at the airport during such year; or (2) by the Secretary at any nonprimary airport after the airport has consulted with at least 65 percent of the owners of aircraft based at that airport, as determined by the Secretary. Repeals certain Federal share of costs requirements with respect to airport improvement projects at airports that receive an exemption from such use requirements.
 
(Sec. 519) Reduces from 20 to 12 the number of airport development projects for which airport improvement grants may be used for innovative financing techniques. Sets forth certain innovative financing techniques requirements.
 
(Sec. 520) Requires the Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, to administer the airport security program.
 
(Sec. 521) Directs the Secretary and the Administrator of the EPA to agree jointly on how to assure that airport sponsors receive appropriate emission credits for carrying out air quality projects at certain airports. Sets forth certain agreement requirements.
 
Directs the Secretary to carry out a pilot program under which airport sponsors may use airport planning and development and noise compatibility planning and program funds to retrofit existing eligible airport ground support equipment that burns conventional fuels to achieve lower emissions utilizing emission control technologies certified or verified by the EPA. 
 
Makes eligible for airport development project funds: (1) work necessary to construct or modify airport facilities to provide low-emission fuel systems, gate electrification, and other related air quality improvements at a commercial service airport provided the airport is located in an air quality nonattainment or maintenance area, and such project will result in an airport receiving appropriate emission credits; and (2) the conversion of vehicles and ground support equipment owned by a commercial service airport to low-emission technology or acquisition for use at such airport vehicles and ground support equipment that include low-emission technology provided the airport is located in an air quality nonattainment area or a maintenance area, and such project will result in an airport receiving appropriate emission credits. 
 
Declares that the cost is allowable for a project for acquiring for use at a commercial service airport vehicles and certain ground support equipment owned by a airport that include low-emission technology, if the total costs allowed for such project are not more than the incremental cost of equipping such vehicles or equipment with low-emission technology. Defines &quot;low-emission technology&quot; as technology for vehicles and equipment whose emission performance is the best achievable under EPA emission standards, relying exclusively on alternative fuels that are substantially non-petroleum based, but not excluding hybrid systems or natural gas powered vehicles.
 
 (Sec. 522) Authorizes the Secretary to make grants from amounts set aside for noise compatibility programs to State and local governments for land use compatibility plans or resulting projects to make the use of land areas around large hub airports and medium hub airports compatible with aircraft operations if certain requirements are met. Sets forth certain grant requirements.
 
(Sec. 523) Prohibits, with specified exceptions, the Secretary from requiring an airport sponsor to provide the FAA, without compensation, space in a building owned by the sponsor and costs associated with such space for building, construction, maintenance, utilities, and other expenses.
 
(Sec. 524) Directs the Secretary to enter into a certain memorandum of understanding (MOU) to provide for the sale of aircraft fuel on Midway Island at a price that will generate sufficient revenue to improve Midway Island Airport's ability to operate on a self-sustaining basis in accordance with FAA standards applicable to commercial airports. Authorizes the airport to transfer the airport's navigation aids, without consideration, to the Administrator.
 
Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 through 2007 for airport capital projects at Midway Island Airport.
 
(Sec. 525) Authorizes the Secretary to approve an airport sponsor's application for an airport development project involving the location of an airport or runway or a major runway extension at a medium or large hub airport only if the sponsor certifies to the Secretary that, among other things, the sponsor has made available to and has provided upon request to the metropolitan planning organization in the area in which the airport is located, if any, a copy of the proposed amendment to the airport layout plan to depict the project and a copy of any airport master plan in which the project is described or depicted.
 
(Sec. 526) Directs the Secretary to review the status of the airport on the Marshall Islands and report to Congress on whether it is appropriate and necessary for such airport to receive grants under the airport improvement program.
 
(Sec. 527) Directs the Secretary to report to Congress on waivers of preference for buying U.S. steel and manufactured goods with respect to airport improvement projects.
 

Title VI: Extension of Airport and Airway Trust Fund Expenditure Authority - 
(Sec. 601) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund through October 1, 2007.

action_date: 2003-06-12
text: 
Aviation Investment and Revitalization Vision Act - 
Title I: Reauthorizations; FAA Management

 - 
(Sec. 101) Amends Federal transportation law to authorize appropriations out of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund for FY 2004 through 2006 for: (1) the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), including the Airport Improvement Program (earmarking amounts for certain administrative-related expenses) and the Airway Facilities Improvement Program; (2) specified FAA aviation research and development (R&D), as well as engineering, projects; and (3) other specified aviation programs.
 
(Sec. 102) Requires the Administrator of the FAA to report biannually to specified congressional committees on the ten largest air navigation facilities and equipment programs, including any changes in the budget for such programs, the program schedule, and technical risks associated with the programs.
 
(Sec. 103) Directs the Administrator of the FAA, in conjunction with the submission of the U.S. budget for FY 2004, to report to specified congressional committees on the overall air traffic controller staffing plan, including strategies to address anticipated retirement and replacement of air traffic controllers.
 
(Sec. 106) Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish an Air Traffic Services Committee to: (1) review, approve, and monitor the strategic plan for the air traffic control system; (2) review and approve methods to accelerate air traffic control modernization and improvements in aviation safety related to air traffic control, including procurements of air traffic control equipment; (3) review operational functions of the air traffic control system; (4) review and approve FAA management of the air traffic control system; and (5) review and approve the FAA's budget as it relates to the air traffic control system. Provides for the transition of members of the Air Traffic Services Subcommittee of the Management Advisory Council to the Air Traffic Services Committee.
 
(Sec. 107) Changes certain responsibilities the FAA Administrator may delegate to the Chief Operating Officer: (1) from developing a strategic plan for the air traffic control system to implementing the plan; and (2) from reviewing FAA operational functions to overseeing the system's day-to-day operational functions.
 
(Sec. 108) Applies certain employee whistle-blower protection requirements to the FAA's acquisition management system.
 

Title II: Airport Development - 
(Sec. 201) Directs the Secretary of Transportation to identify certain airports with delays that significantly affect the national air transportation system. Makes an airport that has been recommended for the construction or reconfiguration of runways, and that does not take action to initiate a planning and environmental assessment process for the construction or reconfiguration of such runways, ineligible for: (1) Federal airport improvement planning and expansion funds; and (2) approval of a passenger facility fee for a specified period of time.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation, in response to a petition from an airport sponsor, or in the case of a congested airport covered by the FAA's Airport Capacity Benchmarks study, to designate an airport development project as a national capacity project if the Secretary determines that the designated project will significantly enhance the capacity of the national air transportation system.
 
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to implement an expedited, coordinated environmental review process for national capacity projects. Authorizes the Secretary to make airport improvement grants to States and units of local government for land use compatibility plans for national capacity projects. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to consider prescribing flight procedures to avoid or minimize potentially significant adverse noise impacts of a national capacity project that involves the construction of new runways or the reconfiguration of existing runways during the environmental planning process. 
 
Directs the Secretary of Transportation to initiate a five-year program for environmental review at national capacity projects. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to hire additional environmental specialists and attorneys to process environmental impact statements in connection with airport construction projects and to serve as project coordinators and environmental impact team members with respect to national capacity projects.
 
(Sec. 202) Directs the Secretary of Transportation to report to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on the categorical exclusions currently recognized, and provide a list of proposed additional categorical exclusions, from the requirement that an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement be prepared under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 for airport projects. Requires the Secretary of Transportation to include in such list other projects he or she determines should be categorically excluded in order to ensure that Department of Transportation (DOT) environmental staff resources are not diverted to lower priority tasks, and are available to expedite the environmental reviews of airport capacity enhancement projects at congested airports.
 
(Sec. 203) Requires the Secretary of Transportation: (1) within 30 days after identifying an airport capacity enhancement project at a congested airport, to publish a notice in the Federal Register requesting comments on whether reasonable alternatives to the project exist; and (2) within 90 days after the comment period ends, to determine whether reasonable alternatives do exist. Makes such a determination binding on all persons, including Federal and State agencies, acting under or applying Federal laws when considering the availability of alternatives to the project. Exempts from these requirements: (1) any alternatives analysis required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; or (2) a project at an airport whose sponsor requests, in writing, that these requirements not apply.
 
(Sec. 204) Increases from 34 to 35 percent of amounts available to the discretionary fund the apportioment the Secretary of Transportation shall use for certain grants for airport noise compatibility planning for a national capacity project, and for noise compatibility programs (as under current law). Requires the Secretary of Transportation to use at least that amount for noise mitigation projects approved in an environmental record of decision for an airport development project that has been designated as a national capacity project.
 
(Sec. 205) Requires the Secretary of Transportation to provide to specified congressional committees a list of: (1) planned air traffic and airport-capacity projects at congested Airport Capacity Benchmark airports the completion of which will substantially relieve congestion at such airports; and (2) options for expanding capacity at eight such airports at which the most severe delays are occurring.
 
(Sec. 206) Sets forth requirements authorizing an airport sponsor to award a design-build contract (for both design and construction of a project by a contractor) for a national capacity project.
 
(Sec. 207) Declares that nothing in this title shall be construed to: (1) preclude the application of any provision of this Act to the State of Illinois or any other sponsor of a new airport proposed to be constructed in the State of Illinois; or (2) preempt the authority of the Governor of Illinois as of August 1, 2001, to approve or disapprove airport development projects. 
 
(Sec. 209) Revises requirements for the passenger facility fee program. Establishes a pilot program to test alternative procedures for authorizing small airports to impose passenger facility fees.
 
(Sec. 210) Requires the Secretary of Transportation to report quarterly to specified congressional committees on the status of construction of each major runway project undertaken at the largest 40 commercial airports in terms of annual enplanements.
 
(Sec. 211) Directs the Administrator of the FAA to study the feasibility of developing a program in which prospective home buyers of property located in the vicinity of an airport could be notified of information derived from noise exposure maps that may affect the use and enjoyment of the property. Requires the FAA to make noise exposure maps available to the public via the Internet.
 
(Sec. 212) Prohibits the Secretaries of Transportation or of Homeland Security from requiring airport sponsors to provide building construction, maintenance, utilities and expenses, or space in airport sponsor-owned buildings to the FAA or the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) without cost for services relating to air traffic control, air navigation, aviation security, or weather reporting.
 
(Sec. 213) Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to apportion airport improvement funds to certain airports with declining boardings for FY 2004 in the same amount apportioned to such airports for FY 2002. Increases the Government's share of allowable costs for a grant made in FY 2004 for an airport improvement project from 90 percent to not more than 95 percent.
 
(Sec. 214) Requires that an agreement between the Government and a qualified entity allowing the entity to operate an airport facility relieves the Government from any liability arising out of, or related to, acts or omissions of entity employees in operating such facility. 
 
Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 through 2006 for the air traffic control contract program. Increases the maximum Federal share of costs for the construction of an air traffic control tower from $1.1 million to $1.5 million.
 
(Sec. 215) Includes within the definition of &quot;public agency&quot; for purposes of the administration of airport improvement funds the Department of the Interior with respect to an airport owned by the Department that is required to be maintained for commercial aviation safety at a remote location. 
 
(Sec. 216) Revises certain airport funding requirements to authorize a sponsor of a nonprimary airport (including an airport in Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Virgin Islands) to make an agreement with the Secretary waiving the sponsor's claim to any part of airport improvement funds apportioned for the airport if the Secretary agrees to make the waived amount available for a grant for another public-use airport in the same State or geographical area. Authorizes the Secretary to decide that costs of revenue producing aeronautical support facilities (including fuel farms and hangars) are allowable costs for an airport development project at a nonprimary airport and for which the Government's share is paid only with airport improvement funds apportioned to the airport's sponsor if the Secretary of Transportation determines that the airport's sponsor has made adequate provision for financing airside needs of the airport.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make available to a sponsor of a nonprimary commercial service airport or reliever airport any part of airport improvement funds apportioned to the sponsor for the fiscal year for the cost of terminal development at the airport.
 
Increases from three percent to 3.5 percent the mandatory annual apportionment of airport improvement amounts to sponsors of cargo only airports.
 
Requires the Secretary of Transportation, in selecting an airport improvement project for a discretionary grant to preserve and enhance capacity, safety, and security at primary and reliever airports to consider the project's ability to foster U.S. competitiveness in securing global air cargo activity at a U.S. airport.
 
Revises one of the conditions on the use of certain airport development funds to repay money borrowed and used to pay the costs for terminal development at the airport. States that such funds shall be available only if, among other things, they will not be used for additional terminal development projects for at least one year (currently, three years) beginning on the date the funds are used to repay the borrowed money.
 
(Sec. 217) Provides for an increase in the Government's share of allowable costs of an airport improvement project approved after September 30, 2001, at an airport that has less than .25 percent of the total number of passenger boardings at all commercial service airports and that is located in a State containing unappropriated and unreserved public lands and nontaxable Indian lands of more than five percent of the total area of all lands in the State. Requires the Government's share of such costs to be increased by the same ratio as the basic share of allowable costs of a project divided into the increased (Public Lands States) share of allowable costs of a project as shown on documents of the FAA dated August 3, 1979, at airports for which the general share was 80 percent on August 3, 1979, provided certain requirements are met. Limits the Government's share of costs to no more than 93.75 percent or the highest percentage Government share for any such project as determined by a specified formula.
 
(Sec. 218) Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish a pilot grant program to support a State's purchase of development rights associated with, or directly affecting the use of, privately owned public use airports located in the State. Sets forth certain grant requirements.
 
(Sec. 219) Requires the Administrator of the FAA to give priority consideration to a letter of intent application for funding submitted by the City of Gary, Indiana, or the State of Indiana, for the extension of the main runway at the Gary/Chicago Airport.
 
(Sec. 220) Prohibits a public agency (a State, tax-supported organization, or Indian tribe) from closing an airport listed in the national plan of integrated airport systems without providing notice to the Administrator of the FAA at least 30 days prior to the closure. Sets forth a civil penalty for violation of the requirements of this section.
 
(Sec. 221) Directs the Administrator of the FAA to study and report to the appropriate congressional committees on the feasibility of consolidating the Anchorage Terminal Radar Approach Control and the Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control Center at the existing Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control Center facility.
 

Title III: Airline Service Development - Subtitle A: Program Enhancements - 
(Sec. 301) Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to take certain steps regarding flight reductions at severely congested airports, including reduction of overscheduling during hours of peak operation and flight delays during hours of peak operation and of inclement weather.
 
(Sec. 302) Extends for three years the small community air service development pilot program.
 
(Sec. 303) Directs the Secretary of Transportation to study and report to specified congressional committees on competition and airline access problems at large and medium hub airports. Prescribes competition disclosure requirements for such airports.
 
(Sec. 305) Directs the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, in conjunction with DOT, to study the feasibility of housing the gates used by all air carriers providing shuttle service from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in the same terminal.
 
(Sec. 306) Amends the Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001 to direct the Secretary of Transportation to give favorable consideration to waiving certain terms and conditions in cases where remaining carriers operate additional flights to accommodate passengers whose service was suspended, interrupted, or discontinued over routes located in isolated areas that are unusually dependent on air transportation.
 

Subtitle B: Small Community and Rural Air Service Revitalization - 
(Sec. 351) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 through FY 2007 for the essential air service program.
 
(Sec. 352) Establishes a marketing incentive program to develop and implement through grants a marketing plan to enable essential air service communities to increase passenger boardings and the level of passenger usage of its airport facilities. Requires not less than 25 percent of the publicly financed costs associated with the marketing plan to come from non-Federal sources. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 through FY 2006.
 
(Sec. 353) Sets forth other pilot program requirements for improving service to communities receiving essential air service assistance. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to increase the rates of compensation to essential air service providers that experience significantly increased costs (ten percent or more) for providing such service without regard to any agreements or requirements relating to the renegotiation of contracts.
 
(Sec. 355) Prohibits the Secretary of Transportation from terminating an essential air service subsidy before 2004 for air service to a community whose ridership for 2000 was sufficient to keep the per passenger subsidy below a specified limitation and that has received notice that its subsidy will be terminated during 2003 because decreased ridership has caused the subsidy to exceed that limitation.
 

Subtitle C: Financial Improvement Effort and Executive Compensation Report - 
(Sec. 371) Directs the Comptroller General to analyze and report semiannually to Congress on measures being taken by air carriers engaged in air transportation and intrastate air transportation to reduce costs and to improve their earnings and profits and balance sheets, including a statement of total compensation paid by an air carrier to each officer or employee and the terms and value of any stock options awarded to such officer.
 

Title IV: Aviation Security - 
(Sec. 401) Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to study and report to specified congressional committees on the effectiveness of the aviation security system.
 
(Sec. 402) Authorizes the establishment of an Aviation Security Capital Fund to provide financial assistance to airport sponsors to defray capital investment in transportation security at airport facilities.
 
(Sec. 403) Excludes from the meaning of airport development, and makes ineligible for airport improvement funding, the replacement by an airport sponsor or operator of a public-use airport of baggage conveyor systems, and reconfiguration of terminal baggage areas, at such airports in order to install bulk explosive detection devices.
 
(Sec. 404) Amends the Aviation and Transportation Security Act to exempt armed forces charter flights from certain aviation security program requirements for charter air carriers with a maximum certificated takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds or more. Requires the Secretary of Defense to establish security procedures for armed forces charter flights.
 
(Sec. 405) Arming Cargo Pilots Against Terrorism Act - Expresses the sense of Congress that flight deck crew members of a cargo aircraft should be armed with a firearm and taser to defend it against an attack by terrorists that could use the aircraft as a weapon of mass destruction or for other terrorist purposes.
 
Authorizes the training and arming of flight deck crew members (pilots) of all-cargo air transportation flights to prevent acts of criminal violence or air piracy.
 
(Sec. 407) Directs the Administrator of the FAA, if an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) (a no fly zone around Washington, DC, extended from the current 15-mile radius up to 38 miles) is established, to report to specified congressional committees explaining the need for it. 
 
(Sec. 408) Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to report to specified congressional committees on the potential impact of the TSA's proposed Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening system (CAPPS II) on the privacy and civil liberties of U.S. citizens.
 
(Sec. 409) Repeals the prohibition against the use of certain funds to recruit or hire personnel into the TSA in excess of 45,000 full-time permanent positions.
 
(Sec. 410) Directs the Administrator of the FAA to issue regulations ensuring that foreign repair stations that repair and maintain aircraft meet the same level of safety required of domestic repair stations. Requires foreign repair stations to meet specific standards as a condition of being certified to work on U.S. registered aircraft.
 
Requires the Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security of the Department of Homeland Security to issue final regulations ensuring the security of foreign and domestic repair stations. 
 

Title V: Miscellaneous - 
(Sec. 501) Extends the Secretary's authority to issue war risk insurance through December 31, 2006. 
 
(Sec. 502) Authorizes and makes permanent a program under which the Secretary makes grants of up to $5 million to project sponsors to improve aviation safety and enhance mobility of the Nation's air transportation system by encouraging nonfederal investment in critical air traffic control facilities and equipment. Sets the Federal share of costs at 33 percent.
 
(Sec. 503) Directs the Administrator of the FAA to deny certification to any person: (1) who knowingly, and with intent to defraud, participates in an activity relating to counterfeit or fraudulently represented aviation parts or materials; or (2) whose certificate is revoked because such person was convicted of participating in such activity.
 
(Sec. 504) Revises the procurement duties and powers of the Administrator of the FAA.
 
(Sec. 506) Increases both civil and administrative penalties for persons who violate certain requirements of Federal transportation law.
 
(Sec. 507) Sets forth requirements regarding apportionment of airport improvement funds.
 
Revises certain airport safety data collection requirements to authorize the Secretary to enter into a cooperative agreement with, or provide a grant from airport improvement funds to, a private company or entity for the collection of airport safety data. Sets the Federal share of cost for data collection at 100 percent.
 
States that the noise exposure map an airport operator may submit to the Secretary may describe estimated aircraft operations during a forecast year that is at least five years in the future.
 
Prohibits collection of a passenger facility fee from a passenger enplaning at an airport if the passenger did not pay for the air transportation because of charter arrangements and payment by DOD.
 
(Sec. 508) Makes eligible for airport development project funds a sponsor or operator of a public-use airport located in an air quality nonattainment or maintenance area that undertakes: (1) work necessary to construct or modify airport facilities to provide low-emission fuel systems, gate electrification, and other related air quality improvements at the airport; or (2) a project for the acquisition or conversion of airport-owned vehicles and ground support equipment to low-emission technology. Requires the project also to result in an airport receiving appropriate emission credits. Defines &quot;low-emission technology&quot; to mean technology: (1) for new vehicles and equipment whose emission performance is best achievable under standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); and (2) that relies exclusively on alternative fuels that are substantially non-petroleum based (but not excluding hybrid systems).
 
Directs the Secretary and the Administrator of the EPA to agree jointly on how to assure that airport sponsors receive appropriate emission credits for carrying out air quality projects at certain airports.
 
Directs the Secretary to carry out a pilot program under which airport sponsors may use airport planning and development and noise compatibility planning and program funds to retrofit existing eligible airport ground support equipment that burns conventional fuels to achieve lower emissions utilizing emission control technologies certified or verified by the EPA.
 
(Sec. 509) Revises the definition of &quot;eligible airport-related project&quot; financed through the imposition by the Secretary of a passenger facility fee to include a project for the acquisition or conversion of ground support equipment or airport-owned vehicles used at a commercial service airport with, or to, low-emission technology or cleaner burning conventional fuels, or the retrofitting of such equipment or vehicles powered by a diesel or gasoline engine with emission control technologies certified by the EPA to reduce emissions, provided the airport is located in an air quality nonattainment or maintenance area, and provided such project will result in an airport's receiving appropriate emission credits.
 
(Sec. 510) Directs the Secretary to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Secretaries of Defense, the Interior, and Homeland Security to facilitate the sale of aircraft fuel on Midway Island so that sales revenue can be used to operate Midway Island Airport in accordance with FAA airport standards.
 
(Sec. 511) Authorizes the Secretary to develop and carry out a program to expand and improve the safety, efficiency, and security of air traffic control services provided in the Gulf of Mexico, including aviation-related navigational, low altitude communications and surveillance, and weather services in the area. Authorizes appropriations.
 
(Sec. 512) Authorizes the Secretary to use certain funds to carry out and expand the Air Traffic Control Collegiate Training Initiative.
 
(Sec. 513) Directs the Administrator of the FAA to transmit to specified congressional committees an action plan: (1) to provide adequate oversight of repair stations and ensure that FAA-approved repair stations outside the United States are subject to the same level of oversight and quality control as those located in the United States; and (2) for addressing problems with the Air Transportation Oversight System.
 
(Sec. 514) Establishes in the DOT the position of National Small Community Air Service Ombudsman, who shall develop strategies for retaining and enhancing the air service provided to small U.S. communities.
 
(Sec. 515) Establishes the National Commission on Small Community Air Service, which shall study and report to Congress and the President on the challenges faced by small U.S. communities with respect to retaining and enhancing their scheduled commercial air service, including whether existing Federal programs charged with helping small communities are adequate. Authorizes appropriations.
 
(Sec. 516) Directs the Administrator of the FAA to establish standards for cabin crew training, consistent with the Homeland Security Act of 2002, and the issuance of certification.
 
(Sec. 517) Authorizes the Secretary to offer to provide war and terrorism insurance to aircraft manufacturers for loss or damage arising from operation of an American aircraft in excess of $50 million in the aggregate or in excess of such other amounts of available primary insurance.
 
(Sec. 518) Authorizes the Secretary to establish a program for the installation, operation, and maintenance of ground-based precision navigational aids for terrain-challenged airports. Authorizes appropriations.
 
(Sec. 519) Authorizes the Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretaries of Energy and of Defense, to establish a program to improve the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and environmental performance of standby power systems at FAA sites, including the implementation of fuel cell technology. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 through 2008.
 
(Sec. 520) Declares that the requirement that the Administrator of the FAA, in establishing a schedule of new fees, ensure that such fees are reasonably related to the FAA's costs of providing the service applies to, and has been in effect with respect to, the authority of the Administrator with respect to the Interim Final Rule and Final Rule issued on March 30, 2000, and August 13, 2001, respectively.
 
(Sec. 521) Expresses the sense of the Senate that U.S. air carriers should: (1) allow active duty members of the Armed Forces to purchase tickets, on a space-available basis, for the lowest fares offered for flights; and (2) offer flexible terms that allow them to purchase, modify, or cancel tickets without time restrictions, fees, or penalties.
 
(Sec. 522) Revises waiting period and related requirements for providers to aliens of training in the operation of certain aircraft. Reduces the waiting period from 45 to 30 days, and allows classroom instruction during such period. Repeals the weight limitation of the aircraft for which an individual would be trained. Changes the oversight officer specified to receive required notifications from the Attorney General to the Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Border and Transportation Security (Under Secretary). 
 
Exempts from such requirements any alien individual holding a nonimmigrant visa who has earned an FAA type rating in an aircraft or has undergone type-specific training, or holds a current pilot's license or foreign equivalent commercial pilot's license permitting the person to fly an aircraft with a maximum certificated takeoff weight of more than 12,500 pounds, if the training provider has notified the Under Secretary that the individual has requested such training, and furnished that individual's visa information.
 
Requires the Under Secretary to notify immediately a training provider if an individual receiving training presents a risk to aviation or national security. Requires the provider to terminate such training immediately.
 
Directs the Under Secretary to require flight schools to conduct a security awareness program for flight school employees (including certified instructors who provide such instruction but are not flight school employees) to increase their awareness of suspicious circumstances and activities of individuals enrolling in or attending flight school.
 
Requires overseas U.S. Embassies and Consulates that possess fingerprint collection equipment to provide fingerprinting services to such aliens if the Under Secretary requires their fingerprinting, and to submit the fingerprints to the Under Secretary and any other appropriate agency.
 
Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to report to specified congressional committees on the effectiveness of the flight school training requirements in reducing risks to aviation security and national security.
 
(Sec. 523) Authorizes the Jackson Hole Airport in Wyoming to impose restrictions on, or prohibit, the operation of Stage 2 aircraft weighing less than 75,000 pounds (with reasonable exemptions for public health and safety) if the Board of the Airport and the Secretary of the Interior agree that Stage 3 aircraft technology represents a prudent and feasible technological advance which if implemented at such airport will result in a reduction in noise at Grand Teton National Park.
 
(Sec. 524) Amends Federal transportation law to prohibit the Secretary of Transportation from providing essential air service subsidies to a place in the contiguous 48 States that: (1) is less than 70 highway miles from the nearest hub airport; or (2) requires a rate of subsidy per passenger in excess of $200, unless such place is more than 210 highway miles from the nearest hub airport. Specifies requirements for the Secretary's calculation of the highway mileage of the most commonly used route between Lancaster, Pennsylvania and the nearest hub airport.
 
(Sec. 525) Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to reimburse specified general aviation entities for security costs incurred and revenue lost as a result of the restrictions imposed by the Federal Government following the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001. Authorizes appropriations.
 
(Sec. 526) Directs the Secretary of Transportation to report to Congress on any actions that should be taken with respect to recommendations made by the National Commission to Ensure Consumer Information and Choice in the Airline Industry on: (1) the travel agent arbiter program; and (2) the special box on tickets for agents to include their service fee charges.
 
(Sec. 527) Requires any U.S. air carrier that received a payment for passenger security and air carrier security fees it collected and paid to the TSA to pass through to any code-share partner the equivalent of that portion of the remittance attributable to passenger security fees paid and collected by that partner.
 
(Sec. 528) Amends Federal Transportation law to add to the definition of a U.S. citizen that is a corporation or association that such corporation or association is under the actual control of U.S. citizens.
 
(Sec. 529) Amends Federal transportation law with respect to the Secretary's authority to authorize a foreign civil aircraft permitted to navigate in the United States to provide air passenger or cargo commerce in the United States, subject to specified requirements. Declares that, for such purposes, eligible cargo taken on or off an aircraft at a place in Alaska in the course of its transportation by any combination of two or more air carriers or foreign air carriers in either direction between a place in the United States and a place outside the United States shall not be deemed to have broken its international journey in, be taken on in, or be destined for Alaska. (Thus precludes application of such authority to such an aircraft.)
 

Title VI: Second Century of Flight - Subtitle A: The Office Aerospace and Aviation Liaison - 
(Sec. 621) Establishes within DOT an Office of Aerospace and Aviation Liaison which shall coordinate: (1) aviation and aeronautics research programs within the Federal Government with U.S. aviation and aeronautical firms; and (2) the development and utilization of new technologies to ensure that, when available, they are used to their fullest potential in aircraft and in the air traffic control system. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 and 2005.
 
(Sec. 622) Establishes within the FAA a National Air Traffic Management System Development Office, which shall develop a next generation air traffic management system plan for the United States. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 through 2010.
 
(Sec. 623) Directs the Office of Aerospace and Aviation Liaison to report to specified congressional committees about market developments and government policies influencing the competitiveness of the U.S. jet transport aircraft industry.
 
(Sec. 624) Prohibits the Secretary of Transportation from transferring certain air traffic control functions of the FAA to a private entity or public entity other than the U.S. Government. Exempts the FAA contract air traffic control tower program from this prohibition.
 

 Subtitle B: Technical Programs - 
(Sec. 641) Directs the Administrators of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the FAA to establish a joint program of competitive, merit-based grants for eligible institutions of higher education to increase the number of students studying toward and completing technical training programs, certificate programs, and associate's, bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degrees in fields related to aerospace and aviation safety. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004.
 
(Sec. 642) Requires the Administrators of NASA and the FAA to develop a joint student loan program for students enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate program leading to an advanced degree in an aerospace-related or aviation safety-related field of endeavor. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004.
 

Subtitle C: FAA Research, Engineering, and Development - 
(Sec. 661) Directs the Administrator of the FAA to continue the program to consider awards, through grants or cooperative agreements, to nonprofit concrete and asphalt pavement research foundations to improve the design, construction, rehabilitation, and repair of rigid concrete airfield pavements to aid in the development of safer, more cost-effective, and more durable airfield pavements.
 
(Sec. 662) Directs the Administrator of the FAA to review and determine whether FAA standards used to determine the appropriate thickness for asphalt and concrete airfield pavements are in accordance with the FAA standard 20-year-life requirement using the most up-to-date available information on the life of airfield pavements. Requires the Administrator of the FAA to make appropriate adjustments to FAA standards for airfield pavements if they are not in accordance with that 20-year-life requirement.
 
(Sec. 663) Directs the Administrator of the FAA to arrange with the National Research Council for an assessment of the FAA's proposed wake turbulence R&D program. Requires a report to specified congressional committees containing the results of the assessment. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004.
 
(Sec. 664) Directs the Administrator of the FAA to undertake the studies and analysis called for in the report of the National Research Council entitled &quot;The Airliner Cabin Environment and the Health of Passengers and Crew&quot;.
 
(Sec. 665) Amends Federal transportation law to revise aviation safety policy to require the Administrator of the FAA to consider exercising leadership with the FAA's foreign counterparts in the International Civil Aviation Organization and its subsidiary organizations, and other international organizations and fora, and with the private sector to promote and achieve global improvements in the safety, efficiency, and environmental effect of air travel.
 
(Sec. 666) Directs the Administrator of the FAA to review and report to specified congressional committees on aviation and aeronautical safety, as well as research funding and technological actions in other countries, and how such activities might be utilized in the United States.
 
(Sec. 667) Directs the FAA to conduct research to promote the development of analytical tools to improve existing certification methods and to reduce the overall costs for the certification of new products.
 
(Sec. 668) Authorizes the Administrator of the FAA to conduct a limited pilot program to provide operating incentives to users of the airspace for the deployment of new technologies, including technologies to facilitate expedited flight routing and sequencing of takeoffs and landings. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004.
 
(Sec. 669) Directs the Administrator of the FAA to develop a Center for Excellence focused on applied research and training on the durability and maintainability of advanced materials in transport airframe structures, including the use of polymeric composites in large transport aircraft. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004.
 
(Sec. 670) Authorizes the Administrator of the FAA to issue certificates to design organizations that meet certain safety standards for the design and manufacture of aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, and appliances.
 
Directs the Administration of the FAA to submit to specified congressional committees a plan for the development and oversight of a system for certification of design organizations that ensures that the system meets the highest standards of safety. Authorizes the Administrator of the FAA to commence issuance of design organization certificates to authorize design organizations to certify compliance with certain minimum safety standards.
 
Authorizes the Administrator of the FAA to issue a type certificate for an aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller, or for an appliance based on a certification of compliance made by a certificated design organization.
 
Prohibits a person from violating a term of a design organization certificate.
 
(Sec. 671) Directs the Administrator of the FAA to study and report to specified congressional committees on ways to reduce aircraft noise and emissions and to increase aircraft fuel efficiency. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004.
 

Title VII: Extension of Airport and Airway Trust Fund Expenditure Authority - 
(Sec. 701) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund through October 1, 2006.

action_date: 2003-12-12
text: 
Vision 100 - Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act - 
Title I: Airport and Airway Improvements - Subtitle A: Funding of FAA Programs - 
(Sec. 101) Amends Federal aviation law to authorize appropriations for FY 2004 through 2007 for: (1) airport and noise compatibility planning and development; (2) air navigation facilities and equipment; (3) the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); and (4) the funding of various aviation programs from the general fund of the Treasury.
 
(Sec. 102) Earmarks air navigation facilities and equipment funds to: (1) enhance safety and security for aircraft operations in the Gulf of Mexico; (2) develop and analyze wake vortex advisory systems; (3) establish a program for the installation of a precision approach aid designed to improve aircraft accessibility at mountainous airports with limited land; (4) establish a program to improve the efficiency, cost effectiveness, and environmental performance of standby power systems at FAA sites, including the implementation of fuel cell technology; and (5) conduct a pilot program to provide operating incentives to users of the airspace for the deployment of new technologies, including technologies to facilitate expedited flight routing and sequencing of takeoffs and landings.
 
(Sec. 103) Earmarks FAA operations funds for: (1) the Center for Management Development of the FAA to operate training courses and to support associated student travel for both residential and field courses; (2) the Air Traffic Control Collegiate Training Initiative; (3) the completion of the Alaska aviation safety project with respect to the three dimensional mapping of Alaska's main aviation corridors; and (4) the Aviation Safety Reporting System.
 
Authorizes appropriations out of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund for FY 2004 through 2007 to gather and analyze aviation data in the Bureau of Transportation Statistics of the Department of Transportation (DOT).
 
(Sec. 104) Authorizes appropriations through FY 2007 for aviation programs.
 
(Sec. 105) Requires the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) to ensure that an agreement between the U.S. Government and a qualified entity, State, or local government allowing the entity, State, or local government to operate an airport facility relieves the U.S. Government from any liability arising out of, or related to, acts or omissions of entity, State, or local employees in operating such facility.
 
Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 through 2007 for the air traffic control contract program (now made permanent). Increases the maximum Federal share of costs for the construction of a nonapproach traffic control tower from $1.1 million to $1.5 million.
 
(Sec. 106) Authorizes the Secretary to provide insurance in excess of the greater amount of available primary insurance or $50 million to aircraft manufacturers for loss or damage resulting from operation of an aircraft by a domestic carrier and involving war and terrorism.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to extend to the U.S. manufacturer of the aircraft of the air carrier involved the limitation of $100 million in liability for third party claims arising out of acts of terrorism, as well as immunity from punitive damages (with the Federal Government responsible for any liability above $100 million). Extends the current authority of the Secretary to provide air carrier insurance and reinsurance through March 30, 2008.
 

Subtitle B: Passenger Facility Fees - 
(Sec. 121) Includes among eligible airport-related projects financed through a passenger facility fee a project in an air quality nonattainment or maintenance area for: (1) the conversion of vehicles and ground support equipment used at a commercial service airport to low-emission technology or to use cleaner burning conventional fuels; (2) the retrofitting of such vehicles or equipment powered by a diesel or gasoline engine with EPA-certified emission control technologies; or (3) the acquisition of airport vehicles and ground support equipment that include low-emission technology or use cleaner burning fuels. Requires such a project to result in an airport's receiving appropriate emission credits. Limits the maximum cost that may be financed by imposition of a passenger facility fee for such low-technology projects.
 
(Sec. 122) Declares that the Secretary may authorize use of a passenger facility fee for making debt service payments on indebtedness incurred to carry out at the airport a project that is not an eligible airport-related project, provided the Secretary determines that such use is necessary owing to the airport's financial need.
 
(Sec. 123) Revises certain passenger facility fee requirements to provide that an eligible agency applying to impose a passenger facility fee that provides notice and an opportunity for consultation to an domestic or foreign air carrier is deemed to have satisfied certain application requirements if it limits such notices and consultations to domestic and foreign air carriers that have a significant business interest at an airport, that is, one: (1) that had at least one percent of passenger boardings at the airport in the prior calendar year, and which amounted to at least 25,000 such boardings; or (3) provides scheduled service at the airport.
 
Requires an eligible agency to provide reasonable notice and an opportunity for public comment before submitting an application to the Secretary. Changes from mandatory to discretionary the authority of the Secretary, after receiving an application, to provide notice and an opportunity to domestic and foreign air carriers and other interested persons to comment on the application.
 
Establishes a pilot program to test alternative procedures for authorizing eligible agencies for nonhub airport to impose passenger facility fees. Authorizes an eligible agency to impose a passenger facility fee at a nonhub airport. Sets forth program requirements.
 
Prohibits the collection of a passenger facility fee from a passenger enplaning at an airport on a military charter flight paid for by the Department of Defense.
 
Requires the Administrator of the FAA to publish in the Federal Register the current Administration policy on the eligibility of airport ground access transportation projects for the use of passenger facility fees.
 
(Sec. 124) Requires an air carrier to segregate passenger facility revenue in a separate account for the benefit of the eligible agencies entitled to such revenue. Prohibits an air carrier from granting to a third party any security or other interest in such revenue. Entitles an air carrier that collects passenger facility fees to receive interest on passenger facility fee accounts.
 

Subtitle C: AIP Modifications - 
(Sec. 141) Makes eligible for airport development project funds routine work to preserve and extend the useful life of runways, taxiways, and aprons at nonhub airports.
 
(Sec. 142) Requires funding of the replacement of baggage conveyor systems, and reconfiguration of terminal baggage areas, at public-use airports in order to install bulk explosive detection devices to use only amounts apportioned for airport planning and development and noise compatibility planning and programs.
 
(Sec. 143) Amends the Federal Aviation Reauthorization Act of 1996 to repeal (in order to conform with this Act) certain authority to use certain funds for specified airport security programs and activities.
 
(Sec. 144) Revises requirements for audit certifications with respect to assurances about airport operations necessary for project grant application approval.
 
(Sec. 145) Makes an allowable airport development project cost the cost of moving a Federal facility impeding an airport development project, if the rebuilt facility is of an equivalent size and type.
 
(Sec. 146) Authorizes the Secretary to apportion airport improvement funds to primary airports for FY 2004 and 2005 in the same amount apportioned to such airports for FY 2002 or 2003 (whichever is greater), provided the Secretary finds that: (1) passenger boardings at the airport were below 10,000 in calendar year 2002 or 2003; (2) the airport had at least 10,000 passenger boardings and scheduled passenger aircraft service in either calendar year 2000 or 2001; and (3) the reason that passenger boardings were below 10,000 was the decrease in passengers following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
 
(Sec. 147) Increases from three percent to 3.5 percent the mandatory annual apportionment of airport improvement amounts to sponsors of airports served by aircraft transporting only cargo with a total annual landed weight of more than 100 million pounds.
 
(Sec. 148) Revises factors the Secretary must consider in selecting a project for a discretionary grant to preserve and improve airport capacity. Sets forth certain other factors that must be considered in selecting an airport development project for a discretionary grant, including whether: (1) funding has been approved for all other projects qualifying for funding during the fiscal year that have attained a higher score under the numerical priority system employed by the Secretary in administering the discretionary fund; and (2) the airport sponsor will be able to commence the work identified in the project application in the fiscal year in which the grant is made, or within six months afterwards, whichever is later.
 
(Sec. 149) Authorizes the Secretary to decide that the costs of revenue producing aeronautical support facilities (including fuel farms and hangars) are allowable costs payable by the Government for an airport development project at a nonprimary airport if: (1) the Government's share of such costs is paid only with funds apportioned to an airport sponsor (except for primary airports) under the special rule for fiscal years with $3.2 billion or more available;and (2) the sponsor has made adequate provision for financing airside needs of the airport.
 
Revises the authorization of an agreement between the sponsor of an airport and the Secretary to waive the sponsor's claim to any part of airport improvement funds apportioned for the airport if the Secretary agrees to make the waived amount available for a grant for another public-use airport in the same State or geographical area. Extends such waiver authorization to apportionments under the special rule for fiscal years with $3.2 billion or more available.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to make any part of airport planning and development and noise compatibility planning and program funds apportioned to a sponsor of a nonprimary airport under the special rule available to pay the costs for terminal development at such airport.
 
(Sec. 150) Revises entitlement to the availability of airport improvement apportionments for three years following the original fiscal year by: (1) repealing such entitlement for any primary airport that had less than .05 percent of the total boardings in the United States in the preceding calendar year; and (2) extending such entitlement to a nonhub airport or any airport that is not a commercial service airport.
 
 
(Sec. 151) Increases from 34 percent to 35 percent of amounts available to the discretionary fund for each fiscal year that the Secretary is required to use for grants for for airport noise compatibility planning and programs (as under current law). Includes among the purposes of such grants: (1) carrying out noise mitigation projects approved in an environmental record of decision for an airport development project; (2) compatible land use planning and projects carried by State and local governments; and (3) airport development projects to comply with the Clean Air Act.
 
(Sec. 152) Directs the Secretary to establish a pilot grant program to support through the award of grants the purchase, by a State or local government, of development rights associated with, or directly affecting the use of, privately owned public use airports located in the State. Sets forth certain grant requirements and standards.
 
(Sec. 153) Increases the availability of funds from the discretionary fund for FY 2004 and 2005 to sponsors of current or former military airports to improve or repair terminal building facilities, or to construct, improve, or repair certain airport surface parking lots, fuel farms, and utilities, and hangars and air cargo terminals at such airports. 
 
(Sec. 154) Revises the authority of the Administrator of the FAA to contract, using sole source or limited source authority, for the collection of airport safety data. Authorizes cooperative agreements with or and grants to a private company for the collection of such data. Makes the Federal share of cost of the data collection 100 percent.
 
(Sec. 155) Revises requirements regarding an airport sponsor's sale or long term lease of a general aviation or other type airport to a private person. Revises the Secretary's authority to approve a sponsor's application for an exemption from certain restrictions and assurances regarding the use of local aviation fuel taxes and airport revenues. Allows such an exemption to the extent necessary to permit the sponsor to recover from such sale or lease an amount as may be approved: (1) in the case of a primary airport, by at least 65 percent of the scheduled air carriers serving the airport (currently, by at least 65 percent of the air carriers serving the airport), and by scheduled and nonscheduled air carriers whose aircraft landing at the airport during the preceding calendar year, had a total landed weight during the preceding calendar year of at least 65 percent of the total landed weight of all aircraft landing at the airport during such year (currently a requirement with respect to all airports); or (2) by the Secretary at any nonprimary airport after the airport has consulted with at least 65 percent of the owners of aircraft based at that airport.
 
Deems an air carrier to have approved a sponsor's application fro an exemption unless it submits an objection in writing to the sponsor by a certain deadline.
 
(Sec. 157) Requires the Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, to administer the airport security program.
 
(Sec. 158) Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue guidance on how to ensure that airport sponsors receive appropriate emission credits for carrying out air quality projects at certain airports. Sets forth certain requirements for such guidance.
 
(Sec. 159) Directs the Secretary to carry out a pilot program under which airport sponsors may use airport planning and development and noise compatibility planning and program funds to retrofit existing eligible airport ground support equipment that burns conventional fuels to achieve lower emissions utilizing emission control technologies certified or verified by the EPA. Limits eligibility for such program to commercial service airports in air quality nonattainment or maintenance areas (proper areas).
 
Makes eligible for airport development project funds: (1) work necessary to construct or modify airport facilities to provide low-emission fuel systems, gate electrification, and other related air quality improvements at a commercial service airport provided the airport is located in a proper area, and such project will result in an airport receiving appropriate emission credits; and (2) a project for the acquisition or conversion of vehicles and ground support equipment owned by a commercial service airport to low-emission technology provided the airport is located in a proper area, and such project will result in an airport receiving appropriate emission credits.
 
Declares an allowable cost the cost for a project for acquiring for use at a commercial service airport vehicles and certain ground support equipment owned by a airport that include low-emission technology, but only to the extent of the incremental cost of equipping such vehicles or equipment with low-emission technology.
 
Defines low-emission technologies technology for vehicles and equipment whose emission performance is the best achievable under EPA emission standards, relying exclusively on alternative fuels that are substantially non-petroleum based, but not excluding hybrid systems or natural gas powered vehicles.
 
(Sec. 160) Authorizes the Secretary to make grants from amounts set aside for noise compatibility programs, under the special rule for fiscal years with $3.2 billion or more available, to State and local governments for land use compatibility plans and resulting projects to make the use of land areas around large hub airports and medium hub airports compatible with aircraft operations if certain requirements are met. Sets forth certain grant requirements.
 
(Sec. 161) Increases from 90 to 95 percent for FY 2004 through 2007 the Federal Government's share of costs for specified airport projects funded under the State airport block grant program.
 
(Sec. 162) Sets forth a formula and related requirements for an increase in the Government's share of allowable project costs in the case of any project approved after September 30, 2003, at a small hub airport or nonhub airport that is located in a State containing unappropriated and unreserved public lands and nontaxable Indian lands (individual and tribal) of more than five percent of the total area of all lands in the State.
 
(Sec. 163) Increases from 40 percent to 70 percent the Federal share of a pilot project for private ownership of airports funded by the Administrator from the discretionary fund.
 
 (Sec. 164) Revises requirements for the written assurances the Secretary must receive before approving an application for an airport development project grant for acquiring land for a noise compatibility purpose. Requires the assurances about reinvestment in an approved noise compatibility project as an alternative use of proceeds from disposition of the land to include the purchase of nonresidential buildings or property in the vicinity of residential buildings or property previously purchased by the airport as part of a noise compatibility program.
 
(Sec. 165) Adds to the written assurances the Secretary must receive before approving an application for an airport development project grant assurance that, if the airport owner or operator and a person who owns an aircraft agree that a hangar is to be constructed at the airport for the aircraft at the aircraft owner's expense, the airport owner or operator will grant the aircraft owner a long-term lease for the hangar.
 
(Sec. 166) Revises requirements for the use of apportionments to repay money borrowed for terminal development costs to cover apportionments for grants to a nonhub primary airport which is a designated current or former military airport in FY 2003 at which terminal development is carried out between January 2003 and August 2004.
 

Subtitle D: Miscellaneous
 - (Sec. 181) Authorizes the FAA Administrator to authorize an airport sponsor, upon application approval, to award a design-build contract (an agreement providing for both design and construction of a project by a contractor) using a selection process permitted under applicable State or local law if specified general requirements are met.
 
Allows the Administrator to reimburse an airport sponsor for design and construction costs incurred before a grant is made for a design-build contract if the project is approved by the Administrator in advance and is carried out in accordance with all administrative and statutory requirements that would have been applicable if the project were carried out after a grant agreement had been executed.
 
(Sec. 182) Authorizes the FAA Administrator to establish a pilot program to test innovative financing techniques through amending a contract for between one and 20 fiscal years to purchase and install air traffic control equipment for the Administration. Limits such an amendment to between one and ten fiscal years. Allows such a contract to contain a cancellation clause, with a cancellation liability schedule covering reasonable and allocable costs incurred through the cancellation date plus reasonable profit, if any, on those costs.
 
Allows the Administrator to may make an advance contract provision to achieve economic-lot purchases and more efficient production rates.
 
Prohibits the Administrator from making any such contract amendments until the program for the terminal automation replacement systems has been rebaselined in accordance with the FAA acquisition management system.
 
Makes specified funding available.
 
(Sec. 183) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out a cost-sharing program under which the Secretary may make grants of up to $5 million per project for up to ten eligible air traffic modernization projects per fiscal year for the purpose of improving aviation safety and enhancing mobility of the Nation's air transportation system by encouraging non-Federal investment in critical air traffic control equipment and software. Limits the Federal share of costs to 33 percent. Requires the non-Federal share to be provided from non-Federal sources, including revenues collected from passenger facility fees.
 
(Sec. 184) Requires the FAA Administrator to report biannually for four years to specified congressional committees on the ten largest air navigation facilities and equipment programs, any budget changes in them, program schedules, and associated technical risks.
 
(Sec. 185) Amends Federal aviation law to prohibit a public agency (a State or local government, a tax-supported organization, or an Indian tribe or pueblo) from closing permanently an airport listed in the national plan of integrated airport systems without providing written notice to the FAA Administrator at least 30 days before the date of the closure. Establishes a civil penalty of $10,000 per day of closure without notice for any violation of this requirement.
 
(Sec. 186) Directs the Secretaries of Transportation, Defense, Interior, and Homeland Security to enter into a memorandum of understanding to facilitate the sale of aircraft fuel on Midway Island at a price that will generate sufficient revenue to improve the airport's ability to operate on a self-sustaining basis in accordance with FAA standards applicable to commercial airports. Requires the memorandum also to address the long-range potential of promoting tourism as a means to generate revenue to operate the airport.
 
Authorizes the Midway Island Airport to transfer, without consideration, to the FAA Administrator the navigation aids at the airport, and requires the Administrator to accept, operate, and maintain them.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to enter into a reimbursable agreement with the Secretary of the Interior to fund, out of the Secretary of Transportation's discretionary fund, airport development at Midway Island Airport (up to $2.5 million per year) for fiscal years ending before October 1, 2007.
 
(Sec. 187) Amends Federal aviation law with regard to intermodal planning to add to the environmental requirements for approval of an airport development project involving the location of an airport, runway, or major runway extension at a medium or large hub airport. Requires the airport sponsor to have made available and provided upon request to the metropolitan planning organization in the area in which the airport is located, if any, a copy of the proposed amendment to the airport layout plan to depict the project and a copy of any airport master plan in which the project is described or depicted.
 
(Sec. 188) Makes the sponsors of airports located in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Republic of Palau eligible for discretionary fund and small airport grants for FY 2004 through 2007.
 
(Sec. 189) Prohibits the Secretary from approving in FY 2004 through 2007 any noise compatibility program submitted if it requires the expenditure of certain funds made available for mitigation of aircraft noise less than 65 DNL.
 
(Sec. 190) Offers the Chaluka Corporation (the village corporation established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) for the Native Village of Nikolski, Alaska) ownership of the surface estate in the former Nikolski Radio Relay Site on Umnak Island, Alaska, and the Aleut Corporation (the regional corporation established under ANCSA for the region in which the Native Village of Nikolski, Alaska, is located) the subsurface estate of that Site, in exchange for relinquishment by the Chaluka Corporation and the Aleut Corporation of specified property.
 
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey the offered land if the Chaluka Corporation and the Aleut Corporation take the actions specified actions.
 
Declares that neither the Chaluka Corporation nor the Aleut Corporation shall be subject to any liability for: (1) the presence or release of a hazardous substance on Phase I lands or the presence of solid waste on Phase I lands, which predates their conveyance to the Chaluka and Aleut Corporations; or (2) any release, from any of such hazardous substances or solid wastes following conveyance of Phase I lands, so long as the presence of or releases from those hazardous substances or solid wastes are not the result of actions by the Chaluka Corporation or the Aleut Corporation.
 
Directs the Secretary of the Interior, at no cost to the recipient, convey ownership of an estate in fee simple in: (1) each specified Lot that is the subject of an Aleutian Housing Authority mutual help occupancy agreement, to the Aleutian Housing Authority (and the remainder of such Lots to the current occupants); and (2) the Nikolski powerhouse land, to the Indian Reorganization Act Tribal Government for the Native Village of Nikolski, upon completion of a certain environmental restoration if after the restoration the powerhouse continues to be located on the Nikolski powerhouse land, or the surface estate to the Chaluka Corporation and the subsurface estate to the Aleut Corporation, if after the restoration, the Nikolski powerhouse is no longer located on the Nikolski powerhouse land.
 
Authorizes the Denali Commission to arrange for environmental restoration of the areas on, beneath, and adjacent to the Nikolski powerhouse land that are contaminated as a result of powerhouse operations and activities.
 
Makes it a condition of the land conveyance that the Chaluka Corporation shall permit the U.S. Government, and its agents, employees, and contractors, to have unrestricted access to the airfield at Nikolski in perpetuity for site investigation, restoration, remediation, and environmental monitoring of the former Nikolski Radio Relay Site and reasonable access to that airfield, and to other land conveyed under this Act, for any activity associated with management of lands owned by the United States and for other governmental purposes without cost to the Government.
 
Declares that the Bureau of Land Management is not required to conduct additional on-the-ground surveys as a result of these conveyances.
 
Authorizes appropriations, including specified funds to reimburse the appropriate State of Alaska agency for costs required for environmental restoration of the Nikolski powerhouse land.
 

Title II: FAA Organization - Subtitle A: FAA Reform
 - (Sec. 201) Amends Federal aviation law to reduce the size of the Federal Aviation Management Advisory Council from 18 to 13 members. States that initial appointments to the Council made after May 1, 2003, shall be made by the Secretary of Transportation (instead of by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate). Requires the Secretary of Transportation to make all appointments (including initial appointments) of the Council member from among individuals who are the leaders of their respective unions of air traffic control system employees. (Currently the President is required to make the initial appointment.) Eliminates the five members appointed by the Secretary after consultation with specified congressional committees.
 
(Sec. 202) Directs the FAA Administrator to convert the Air Traffic Services Subcommittee into an Air Traffic Services Committee independent of the Council, and composed of the Administrator and four other members meeting specified qualifications. Prohibits the appointment of U.S. Government officers or employees to the Committee. Permits the FAA to give the Committee (as well as the Council) access to relevant documents and FAA staff. Prohibits specified conflicts-of-interest for Committee members. Prescribes requirements for personnel matters and travel expenses.
 
Authorizes appropriations to the Committee.
 
(Sec. 203) Revises the responsibilities of the FAA Chief Operating Officer (CPO), as delegated by the Administrator. Requires the CPO to oversee the FAA day-to-day operational functions for air traffic control (currently, to review FAA operational functions), including the management of cost-reimbursable contracts.
 
(Sec. 204) Requires the Secretary to set the Deputy Administrator's annual rate of basic pay, not to exceed the Administrator's annual rate.
 

Subtitle B: Miscellaneous - 
(Sec. 221) Requires the FAA Administrator to: (1) report to specified congressional committees on the overall air traffic controller staffing plan, including strategies to address anticipated retirement and replacement of air traffic controllers; and (2) develop a comprehensive human capital workforce strategy to determine the most effective method for addressing the need for more air traffic controllers that is identified in the June 2002 report of the General Accounting Office.
 
(Sec. 222) Amends Federal aviation law to prohibit reprisals against contractor employees under the FAA acquisition management system for disclosing to a Member of Congress or an authorized official of the FAA or the Department of Justice information relating to a substantial violation of law related to a contract.
 
 (Sec. 223) Directs the FAA Administrator to take appropriate actions to implement the recommendations contained in the General Accounting Office report entitled &quot;FAA Purchase Cards: Weak Controls Resulted in Instances of Improper and Wasteful Purchases and Missing Assets,&quot; numbered GAO-03-405 and dated March 21, 2003.
 
(Sec. 224) Amends Federal aviation law regarding FAA Administrator's general procurement authority to repeal the authority to use non-competitive procurement procedures.
 
Requires the acquisition management system, at a minimum, to provide for the resolution of bid protests and related contract disputes, using consensual alternative dispute resolution techniques to the maximum extent practicable. Requires any bid protest or contract dispute that is not addressed or resolved through alternative dispute resolution to be adjudicated by the Administrator through Dispute Resolution Officers or Special Masters of the Federal Aviation Administration Office of Dispute Resolution for Acquisition, subject to judicial review.
 
Makes the FAA Administrator the final authority for carrying out all FAA functions, powers, and duties relating to the acquisition and maintenance of services.
 
(Sec. 225) Defines a small hub airport as a commercial service airport that has at least 0.05 percent but less than 0.25 percent of the revenue passenger boardings in the United States in the prior calendar year on an aircraft in service in air commerce, including passengers who continue on an aircraft in international flight that stops at an airport in the 48 contiguous States, Alaska, or Hawaii for a nontraffic purpose.
 
Defines: (1) a nonhub airport as a commercial service airport that has less than 0.05 percent of such passenger boardings; (2) a medium hub airport as one that has at least 0.25 percent but less than 1.0 percent of such passenger boardings; and (3) a large b airport as one that has at least 1.0 percent of such passenger boardings.
 
(Sec. 226) Amends Federal civil service law to provide for coverage of air traffic controllers under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS).
 
Prescribes a formula for computation of the annuity under FERS for certain air traffic controllers with at least five years of service.
 
Requires a deposit into the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund of certain amounts for service before the effective date of this subtitle in order for an air traffic controller to be eligible for immediate retirement.
 
(Sec. 227) Directs the FAA Administrator to transmit to specified congressional committees a plan a plan for the development and oversight of a system for certification of design organizations to certify compliance with the requirements and minimum Federal standards for the type certification of aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, or appliances.
 
Authorizes the Administrator, beginning seven years after enactment of this subtitle, to issue a design organization certificate to a design organization to authorize it to certify compliance with such requirements and minimum standards.
 
(Sec. 228) Provides for judicial review of regulations or security directives of the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security, as well as (under existing law) any order of the Secretary of Transportation regarding airport development and noise or of the FAA Administrator regarding aviation duties and powers, at the petition of any person with a substantial interest in the regulation, security directive, or order.
 
(Sec. 229) Declares that the interim final rule and final rule, relating to overflight fees, issued by the Administrator on May 30, 2000, and August 13, 2001, respectively, including fees assessed between November 19, 2001, and April 8, 2003 (and certain others collected subsequently), to be adopted, legalized, and confirmed as fully to all intents and purposes as if the same had, by prior Act of Congress, been specifically adopted, authorized, and directed as of the date those rules were originally issued.
 
 Requires the FAA Administrator to defer collecting fees until: (1) reporting to Congress in response to the issues raised by the court in Air Transport Association of Canada v. Federal Aviation Administration and Administrator, FAA, decided on April 8, 2003, and (2) consulting with users and other interested parties on the consistency of such fees with U.S. international obligations.
 

Title III: Environmental Process - Subtitle A: Aviation Development Streamlining
 - Aviation Streamlining Approval Process Act of 2003 - (Sec. 303) Directs the FAA Administrator to take action to encourage the construction of airport capacity enhancement projects at congested airports.
 (Sec. 304) Directs the Secretary to develop and implement an expedited and coordinated environmental review process for airport capacity enhancement projects at congested airports, aviation safety projects, and aviation security projects. 
Authorizes the Transportation Infrastructure Streamlining Task Force to monitor airport projects subject to the coordinated review process.
 
Authorizes the FAA Administrator to consider and commit to prescribing, in a project approval record of decision, flight procedures to avoid or minimize potentially significant adverse noise impacts of an airport capacity enhancement project at a congested airport that involves the construction of new runways or the reconfiguration of existing runways during the environmental planning process for the project.
 
Authorizes the FAA Administrator to accept funds from an airport sponsor to hire additional staff or obtain consultant services in order to facilitate the timely processing, review, and completion of environmental activities associated with an airport development project.
 
Authorizes appropriations.
 
(Sec. 306) Authorizes the Secretary to make airport noise compatibility grants for soundproofing and acquisition of certain residential buildings and properties to an airport operator of a congested airport and a local government unit to carry out a noise mitigation project in the area surrounding the airport if the project is included as a commitment in an FAA record of decision for an airport capacity enhancement project, even if that airport has not met Federal airport noise compatibility planning requirements.
 
(Sec. 307) Directs the Secretary to publish the final FAA Order 1050.1E, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures by a certain deadline, and the revised Federal Aviation Administration Order 5050.4B, Airport Environmental Handbook, for public comment, within 180 days after that.
 
(Sec. 309) Applies the coordinated review process required under this subtitle to an airport capacity enhancement project at a congested airport whether or not the project is designated a high-priority transportation infrastructure project.
 

Subtitle B: Miscellaneous 
- (Sec. 321) Directs the Secretary to study and report to specified congressional committees on ways to reduce aircraft noise and emissions and to increase aircraft fuel efficiency. Authorizes appropriations.
 
(Sec. 322) Directs the FAA Administrator to study the feasibility of developing a program under which prospective home buyers of property located in the vicinity of an airport could be notified of information derived from noise exposure maps that may affect the use and enjoyment of the property.
 
(Sec. 323) Amends Federal aviation law regarding overflights of national parks, especially by commercial air tour operations.
 
Directs the Secretary, by January 2005, to issue a final rule to establish standards for quiet technology that are reasonably achievable at Grand Canyon National Park, based on the Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Noise Limitations for Aircraft Operations in the Vicinity of Grand Canyon National Park, published in the Federal Register on March 24, 2003. Requires the Secretary to refer to a recognized center for environmental conflict resolution any dispute on specified related matters among interested parties (including outside groups) or government agencies cannot be resolved within a reasonable time frame and could delay finalizing the rulemaking.
 
(Sec. 324) Specifies a forecast period at least five years in the future as the period of estimated aircraft operations to be included by an airport operator on a noise exposure map.
 
Requires an airport operator to submit to the Secretary a revised noise exposure map showing any significant noise reduction over existing noncompatible uses a change in airport operation would make that is not reflected in either the existing conditions map or forecast map currently on file with the FAA.
 
(Sec. 325) Directs the Secretary to issue by April 1, 2005, final regulations to implement Chapter 4 noise standards, consistent with the recommendations adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
 
(Sec. 326) Directs the Secretary to establish a research program related to reducing community exposure to civilian aircraft noise or emissions through grants or other authorized measures, including reimbursable agreements with other Federal agencies.
 
Requires the FAA Administrator to designate as a Center of Excellence for Noise and Emission Research any educational or research institution with existing facilities for developing and testing noise reduction engine technology that participates in the program.
 
(Sec. 327) Declares that nothing in this title shall be construed to: (1) preclude the application of any provision of this Act to the State of Illinois or any other sponsor of a new airport proposed to be constructed in Illinois; or (2) preempt the authority of the Governor of Illinois as of August 1, 2001, to approve or disapprove airport development projects.
 

Title IV: Airline Service Improvements - Subtitle A: Small Community Air Service - 
(Sec. 401) Amends Federal aviation law to declare that, if an air carrier commences air transportation to an eligible place not receiving scheduled passenger air service as a result of the failure of the place to meet requirements contained in an appropriations Act, the air carrier shall not be subject to the requirements (hold-in requirements) that it continue to provide basic essential air service to the place for additional 30-day periods until another carrier begins to provide such service to the place if it ends, suspends, or reduces air transportation to such place below the level of basic essential air service.
 
(Sec. 402) Authorizes the Secretary, if air carriers are experiencing significantly increased costs in providing small community air service or air transportation, to increase the rates of compensation payable without regard to any agreement or requirement relating to the renegotiation of contracts or specified notice requirements. Authorizes a reversal of such an adjustment under certain circumstances. Defines significantly increased costs as a total unit cost increase (but not increases in individual unit costs) of ten percent or more (for a period of at least 2 consecutive months) in relation to the total unit cost reflected in the compensation rate.
 
(Sec. 403) Includes joint fares among the joint proposals for maximizing small community service or transportation to and from major destinations beyond the hub whose submission by two or more providing air carriers the Secretary is required to encourage.
 
(Sec. 404) Increases from $15 million to $77 million the additional appropriations authorized for each fiscal year to carry out the essential air service program. Earmarks up to $12 million of such addition funds per fiscal year for the marketing incentive program for communities and for State marketing assistance. Authorizes appropriations for the hiring and employment of four additional employees for the office responsible for carrying out the program.
 
(Sec. 405) Directs the Secretary to establish an alternate essential air service pilot program, which shall provide assistance directly to a local government unit with appropriate jurisdiction or a State where the eligible place is located, instead of to an air carrier. Specifies authorized uses of such assistance, including use of smaller equipment, provision of on-demand air-taxis and surface transportation, and purchase of a fractional share in an aircraft.
 
Requires the Secretary to establish a pilot program for up to ten eligible places or consortia of local government units under which an airport sponsor serving an eligible place may elect to forego any essential air service for which compensation is being provided for a ten-year period in exchange for a grant from the Secretary equal in value to twice the compensation paid for such service in the most recent 12-month period.
 
Requires the Secretary to make a grant to each airport sponsor participating in the program for use on any project that: (1) is eligible for airport development assistance; (2) is located on the airport property; or (3) will improve airport facilities in a way that would make them more usable for general aviation.
 
(Sec. 406) Directs the Secretary to establish a pilot program under which the Secretary may require air carriers providing small community air service for up to ten communities and major air carriers serving large hub airports to participate in multiple code-share arrangements consistent with normal industry practice whenever and wherever the Secretary determines that such multiple code-sharing arrangements would improve air transportation services.
 
(Sec. 407) Directs the Secretary to require a carrier that provides essential air service to an eligible place, and receives compensation for it, to report at least semiannually: (1) the percentage of flights to and from the place that arrive on time; and (2) such other information as the Secretary considers necessary to evaluate service provided to passengers traveling to and from such place.
 
(Sec. 408) Directs the Secretary to establish a pilot program under which up to ten designated essential air service communities (but only one per State) located in proximity to hub airports are required to assume ten percent of their essential air service subsidy costs for a four-year period. Requires such a community to be located within 100 miles by road of a hub airport, and not be located in a noncontiguous State.
 
(Sec. 409) Specifies as the most commonly used route between an eligible place and the nearest medium hub airport or large hub airport the measure of highway mileage to be used in reviewing, upon request, any action, during the two years before enactment of this Act, to eliminate (or tentatively eliminate) compensation for essential air service to such place, or terminate (or tentatively terminate) the place's compensation eligibility for such service. Requires the Secretary, within 60 days after receiving a review request, to: (1) determine whether the eligible place would have been subject to such an elimination or termination under specified law based on such a determination of highway mileage; and (2) issue a final order regarding eligibility for essential air service compensation. Terminates any such final order on September 30, 2007.
 
(Sec. 410) Directs the Secretary to establish a marketing incentive program for eligible places that receive subsidized essential air service under which an airport sponsor may receive a grant of up to $50,000 in a fiscal year to develop and implement a marketing plan to increase passenger boardings and the level of passenger usage of its airport facilities. Specifies bonuses for 25-percent and 50-percent increases in usage as a result of such marketing plans.
 
(Sec. 411) Establishes a National Commission on Small Community Air Service to study and report to the President and Congress on: (1) the challenges faced by small communities in the United States with respect to retaining and enhancing their scheduled commercial air service; and (2) whether the existing Federal programs charged with helping small communities are adequate for them to retain and enhance their existing air service. Authorizes appropriations.
 
(Sec. 412) Amends Federal aviation law to convert the small community air service development pilot program to a permanent program.
 
Declares that no community, consortia of communities, nor combination thereof may participate in the program in support of the same project more than once; but any community, consortia of communities, or combination may apply, subsequent to such participation, to participate in the program in support of a different project.
 
Requires the Secretary to give priority to communities or consortia of communities where, among other things, the assistance will be used in a timely fashion.
 
Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 through 2008.
 

Subtitle B: Miscellaneous
 - (Sec. 421) Directs the Secretary to publish data on incidents and complaints involving passenger and baggage security screening in a manner comparable to other consumer complaint and incident data. Authorizes the Secretary to request the Secretary of Homeland Security to report periodically on the number of security screening complaints received by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
 
(Sec. 422) Authorizes the Secretary to request that air carriers meet with the FAA Administrator to discuss flight reductions at severely congested airports to reduce overscheduling and flight delays during hours of peak operation. Requires the FAA Administrator, beforehand, to establish flight reduction targets for the meeting and notify the attending air carriers of them at least 48 hours before it takes place.
 
Authorizes an air carrier attending the meeting to make any offer to meet a flight reduction target to the Administrator rather than to another carrier.
 
(Sec. 423) Directs the FAA Administrator to establish a two-year collaborative decisionmaking pilot program involving two of the most capacity-constrained airports in the Nation with respect to capacity reduction events.
 
Authorizes the Administrator, upon a determination that a capacity reduction event exists, to authorize domestic and foreign air carriers operating at participating airport to communicate for up to 24 hours with each other concerning changes in their respective flight schedules in order to use air traffic capacity most effectively.
 
Authorizes the Secretary, unless the Attorney General objects, to exempt from the antitrust laws, solely for such purposes, an domestic or foreign air carrier's activities that are necessary to participate in the pilot program.
 
Requires the Administrator to determine whether the pilot program has facilitated more effective use of air traffic capacity and the Secretary to determine whether the program has had an adverse effect on airline competition or the availability of air services to communities.
 
Provides for an extension of the program for two additional years and seven additional airports.
 
(Sec. 424) Authorizes the Secretary to approve an airport development project grant application for an for a large hub airport or a medium hub airport only if assurances are made that the airport sponsor will inform the Secretary semiannually whether it has been unable to accommodate one or more air carrier requests for access to gates or other facilities.
 
(Sec. 425) Increases slot exemptions at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport: (1) from 12 to 24 beyond-perimeter exemptions; and (2) from 12 to 20 within-perimeter exemptions. Repeals the limitation of airports within the perimeter established for civil aircraft operations to medium hub or smaller airports. Increases the number of allocations of within-perimeter exemptions.
 
Requires the Secretary to establish procedures to ensure that all requests for such exemptions are granted or denied within 90 days after the request is made.
 
(Sec. 426) Defines commuters, for purposes of aircraft operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, as aircraft operations using aircraft having a certificated maximum seating capacity of 76 or less.
 
(Sec. 427) Declares the sense of Congress that each U.S. air carrier should: (1) establish for all members of the Armed Forces on active duty reduced air fares comparable to the lowest airfare for ticketed flights; and (2) offer flexible terms allowing them to purchase, modify, or cancel tickets without time restrictions, fees, and penalties.
 
(Sec. 428) Amends the Aviation and Transportation Security Act to extend through 36 months after its enactment (on November 19, 2001) the requirement that an air carrier providing scheduled air transportation on a route honor tickets of passengers on a flight which another air carrier has suspended, interrupted, or discontinued by reason of insolvency or bankruptcy.
 
 

Title V: Aviation Safety
 - (Sec. 501) Prohibits the FAA Administrator from issuing a safety certificate to any person whose certificate is revoked for counterfeit or fraudulently represented aviation parts offenses.
 
 
(Sec. 502) Declares that an airport owner or operator in Alaska shall not be required to reduce the length of a runway or declare it to be less than the actual pavement length in order to meet FAA runway safety area standards.
 
Directs the Secretary to study and report to specified congressional committees on runways at airports in States other than Alaska to: (1) determine which airports are affected by FAA runway safety area standards; and (2) assess how operations at those airports would be affected if the airport owner or operator is required to reduce the runway length or declare it to be less than the actual pavement length in order to meet such standards.
 
(Sec. 503) Increases the maximum civil penalties for certain violations of Federal aviation law from $1,000 to $25,000 ($1,100 for an individual or small business). Increases to $10,000 the civil penalties for individuals or small businesses for certain other offenses related to: (1) the transportation of hazardous material; (2) the registration or recordation of an aircraft not used to provide air transportation; (3) the limitation on construction or establishment of landfills; (4) the safe disposal of life-limited aircraft parts; or (5) discrimination. Limits the civil penalty for individuals or small businesses, however, to: (1) $5,000 for violations of air service termination notice requirements; and (2) $2,500 per violation for unfair and deceptive practices and unfair methods of competition.
 
Increases the amounts in controversy of civil penalty collection actions over which U.S. district courts have exclusive jurisdiction.
 
(Sec. 504) Directs the FAA Administrator to ensure that Federal training standards for airframe and powerplant mechanics are updated and revised to include curriculum adjustments necessary to more accurately reflect current technology and maintenance practices.
 
(Sec. 505) Directs the FAA Administrator to arrange with the National Research Council to assess and report to specified congressional committees on the proposed FAA wake turbulence research and development program. Authorizes appropriations.
 
(Sec. 506) Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to specified congressional committees on the training of FAA aviation safety inspectors.
 
Declares the sense of the House of Representatives that: (1) FAA inspectors should be encouraged to take the most up-to-date initial and recurrent training on the latest aviation technologies; (2) FAA inspector training should have a direct relation to an individual's job requirements; and (3) if possible, a FAA inspector should be allowed to take training at the location most convenient for the inspector.
 
Directs the FAA Administrator to arrange for the National Academy of Sciences to study and report to Congress on FAA assumptions and methods used to estimate staffing standards for FAA inspectors to ensure proper oversight over the aviation industry, including the designee program.
 
(Sec. 507) Directs the FAA Administrator to transmit to specified congressional committees a plan containing an implementation schedule for addressing problems with the air transportation oversight system identified in reports by the Comptroller General and the DOT Inspector General.
 

Title VI: Aviation Security
 - (Sec. 601) Amends Federal aviation law to direct the FAA Administrator to issue an order amending, modifying, suspending, or revoking any part of an aviation certificate if the Administrator is notified by the Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security of DHS that the certificate holder poses, or is suspected of posing, a risk of air piracy or terrorism or a threat to airline or passenger safety. Prescribes requirements for review of such an order that adversely affects an individual U.S. citizen, including requirements for use at a hearing of an unclassified summary of classified evidence upon which the order was based.
 
(Sec. 602) Requires the FAA Administrator to report every 60 days to specified congressional committees an explanation of the need of any Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) the Administrator establishes, until the ADIZ is rescinded. Defines an ADIZ as a zone established by the Administrator with respect to airspace under 18,000 feet in approximately a 15- to 38-mile radius around Washington, District of Columbia, for which security measures are extended beyond the existing 15-mile no-fly zone around Washington, and in which general aviation aircraft are required to adhere to certain procedures.
 
Requires such reports to describe any changes in procedures or requirements that could improve operational efficiency or minimize operational impacts of the ADIZ on pilots and controllers.
 
(Sec. 603) Amends Federal aviation law to revise requirements for an air carrier's training program to prepare flight and cabin crew members for potential threat conditions.
 
Directs the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security to: (1) monitor such programs and review them periodically to ensure that they are adequately preparing crew members for potential threat conditions; and (2) develop and provide a voluntary advanced self-defense training program for flight and cabin crew members, for which they shall neither be paid compensation nor charged a fee.
 
(Sec. 604) Directs the DHS Secretary to study report to specified congressional committees on the effectiveness of the aviation security system, including the air marshal program, hardening of cockpit doors, and security screening of passengers, checked baggage, and cargo.
 
(Sec. 605) Authorizes the DHS Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security (BTS) to make grants to airport sponsors for projects to: (1) replace baggage conveyer systems related to aviation security; (2) reconfigure terminal baggage areas as needed to install explosive detection systems; (3) enable the Under Secretary to deploy explosive detection systems behind the ticket counter, in the baggage sorting area, or in line with the baggage handling system; and (4) make other airport security capital improvements.
 
Declares that the Federal share of project costs shall be 90 percent for a project at a medium or large hub airport and 95 percent at any other airport.
 
Establishes within DHS the Aviation Security Capital Fund, whose first $250 million deposit shall be derived from passenger security service fees received in each of FY 2004 through 2007. Requires Under Secretary to impose such fee so as to collect at least that amount in each of such fiscal years. Prescribes requirements for mandatory allocation of $125 million per fiscal year to large, medium, and small hub and nonhub airports. Authorizes the use of another $125 million for discretionary grants.
 
Authorizes the appropriations of $250 million for each of FY 2004 through 2007. Requires half of annual appropriations to go for mandatory and half for discretionary grants. 
 
(Sec. 606) Directs the Under Secretary for BTS to implement an aviation security program for charter air carriers (except armed forces charters) with a maximum certificated takeoff weight of more than 12,500 pounds.
 
Requires the Secretary of Defense to establish security procedures relating to the operation of aircraft when employed to provide charter transportation to members of the armed forces to or from an airport.
 
(Sec. 607) Prohibits the Under Secretary for BTS from implementing, on other than a test basis, the computer assisted passenger prescreening system (CAPPS2) until the Under Secretary certifies to Congress that (1) a procedure is established enabling airline passengers, who are delayed or prohibited from boarding a flight because CAPPS2 determined that they might pose a security threat, to appeal such determination and correct information contained in CAPPS2; (2) the error rate of the Government and private data bases that will be used to both establish identity and assign a risk level to a passenger under CAPPS2 will not produce a large number of false positives that will result in a significant number of passengers being mistaken as a security threat; (3) the Under Secretary has demonstrated the efficacy and accuracy of all search tools in CAPPS2 and has demonstrated that it can make an accurate predictive assessment of those passengers who would constitute a security threat; (4) the DHS Secretary has established an internal oversight board to oversee and monitor the manner in which CAPPS2 is being implemented; (5) the Under Secretary has built in sufficient operational safeguards to reduce the opportunities for abuse; (6) substantial security measures are in place to protect CAPPS2 from unauthorized access by hackers or other intruders; (7) the Under Secretary has adopted policies establishing effective oversight of the use and operation of the system; and (8) there are no specific privacy concerns with the technological architecture of the system.
 
Requires the Comptroller General to report to specified congressional committees on the impact of CAPPS2 on such issues as well as on privacy and civil liberties, with any recommendations for practices, procedures, regulations, or legislation to eliminate or minimize adverse effect of CAPPS2 on privacy, discrimination, and other civil liberties.
 
(Sec. 608) Directs the DHS Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on the potential impact of CAPPS2 on the privacy and civil liberties of U.S. citizens.
 
(Sec. 609) Declares the sense of Congress that members of a flight deck crew of a cargo aircraft should be armed with a firearm or taser to defend the cargo aircraft against an attack by terrorists that could result in the use of the aircraft as a weapon of mass destruction or for other terrorist purposes.
 
Amends Federal aviation law regarding the Federal flight deck officer program to extend its application to all air transportation, including all-cargo air transportation. (Currently, the program is limited to passenger air transportation.)
 
(Sec. 610) Amends the Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 2003 to repeal the cap on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staffing level.
 
(Sec. 611) Directs the FAA Administrator to transmit to specified congressional committees a plan containing an implementation schedule to strengthen oversight of domestic and foreign repair stations and ensure that foreign repair stations certified by the Administrator are subject to an equivalent level of safety, oversight, and quality control as those located in the United States.
 
Amends Federal aviation law to direct the Under Secretary for BTS to: (1) complete a security review and audit of foreign repair stations certified by the FAA Administrator that work on air carrier aircraft and components; (2) require a foreign repair station to address security issues and vulnerabilities identified in a security audit; and (3) notify the Administrator that a deficiency was identified in such security audit. Requires the Administrator to give audit priority to foreign repair stations located in countries identified by the Government as posing the most significant security risks.
 
Requires the FAA Administrator to suspend the certification of the repair station until effective security measures are carried out, if, after a 90-day period following notification to the station of identified security issues and vulnerabilities, the Under Secretary determines that the foreign repair station does not maintain and carry out effective security measures. Requires immediate revocation of a certificate if the Under Secretary determines that a foreign repair station poses an immediate security risk. Requires the Under Secretary to establish procedures for appealing a certificate revocation.
 
Prohibits the FAA Administrator from certifying any foreign repair station until all currently required audits are completed for existing stations.
 
Requires the Under Secretary to report an explanation and an issuance schedule to specified congressional committees if final regulations to ensure the security of foreign and domestic aircraft repair stations are not issued before a specified deadline.
 
(Sec. 612) Amends Federal aviation law to revise waiting period requirements for flight training (including in-flight, simulator, or any other form of training) of aliens or any individuals specified by the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security. Limits the meaning of flight training to training received from an instructor in an aircraft or aircraft simulator, excluding recurrent training, ground training, or demonstration flights for marketing purposes.
 
Applies the requirements to any flight instructor, pilot school, aviation training center, or person subject to certain related regulations. Specifies information about the alien or other individual specified by the DHS Secretary (instead of the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security) that must be reported to the DHS Secretary (currently, the Attorney General). Reduces the waiting period from 45 days to 30.
 
Requires an expedited waiting period of only five days for an alien who: (1) holds an airman's certification of a foreign country recognized by a U.S. agency, including a military agency, that permits an individual to operate a multi-engine aircraft with a certificated takeoff weight of more than 12,500 pounds; (2) is employed by a certified foreign air carrier with an approved security program; (3) is an individual that has unescorted access to a designated secured area of an airport which serves an air carrier or foreign air carrier; or (4) is one of a class of individuals to whom, according to the Secretary, aviation training presents minimal risk to aviation or national security because of the aviation training the class of individuals already possesses.
 
Exempts from required procedures and processes a foreign military pilot endorsed by the Department of Defense for flight training in the United States and seeking training subject to waiting period requirements.
 
Authorizes the DHS Secretary to: (1) assess an investigation fee not to exceed $100 per individual (exclusive of the cost of transmitting fingerprints collected at overseas facilities) during FY 2003 and 2004; and (2) adjust the maximum amount of the fee to reflect the costs of such an investigation for FY 2005 and afterwards.
 
Requires U.S. Embassies and Consulates possessing appropriate fingerprint collection equipment and personnel certified to capture fingerprints to provide fingerprint services to aliens covered by these requirements if the DHS Secretary requires fingerprints in the administration of the investigations.
 
(Sec. 613) Requires the TSA Administrator to deploy Federal screeners at Kenai, Homer, and Valdez, Alaska, within 45 days after enactment of this Act.
 

Title VII: Aviation Research
 - (Sec. 701) Amends Federal aviation law to authorize appropriations through FY 2006 for various specified aviation research programs.
 
(Sec. 702) Directs the FAA Administrator to establish a Federal Aviation Administration Science and Technology Scholarship Program covering tuition, fees, and other authorized expenses of an institution of higher education, and designed to recruit and prepare students for careers in the FAA. Requires qualified individuals to agree, in exchange for a scholarship, to serve as full-time employees of the FAA for a period of 24 months for each academic year for which a scholarship is provided.
 
Authorizes appropriations.
 
(Sec. 703) Directs the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to establish a National Aeronautics and Space Administration Science and Technology Scholarship Program covering tuition, fees, and other authorized expenses of an institution of higher education, and designed to recruit and prepare students for careers in NASA. Requires qualified individuals to agree, in exchange for a scholarship, to serve as full-time employees of NASA for a period of 24 months for each academic year for which a scholarship is provided.
 
Authorizes appropriations.
 
(Sec. 704) Directs the FAA Administrator to continue the program to consider awards to nonprofit concrete and asphalt pavement research foundations to improve the design, construction, rehabilitation, and repair of airfield pavements to aid in the development of safer, more cost effective, and more durable airfield pavements.
 
(Sec. 705) Directs the FAA Administrator to review and determine whether FAA standards used to determine the appropriate thickness for asphalt and concrete airfield pavements are in accordance with its standard 20-year-life requirement using the most up-to-date available information on the life of airfield pavements. Requires the Administrator to make appropriate adjustments to the standards if they are not in accordance with that requirement.
 
(Sec. 706) Requires the FAA to conduct research to: (1) promote the development of analytical tools to improve existing certification methods; and (2) reduce the overall costs for the certification of new products.
 
(Sec. 707) Amends Federal aviation law to direct the FAA Administrator to establish a program to utilize undergraduate and technical colleges, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Hispanic Serving Institutions, in research on the impact of new technologies and procedures, particularly those related to aircraft flight deck and air traffic management functions, on training requirements for pilots and air traffic controllers.
 
(Sec. 708) Directs the FAA Administrator to develop a Center for Excellence focused on applied research and training on the durability and maintainability of advanced materials in transport airframe structures. Authorizes appropriations.
 
(Sec. 709) Directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish in the FAA the Next Generation Air Transportation System Joint Planning and Development Office to: (1) create an integrated plan for a Next Generation Air Transportation System; (2) oversee its research and development, and create a transition plan for its implementation; (3) coordinate aviation and aeronautics research programs, goals and priorities and research activities within the Federal Government with U.S. aviation and aeronautical firms, and development and utilization of new technologies; (4) facilitate technology transfer from research programs such as the NASA program and the Department of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency program to Federal agencies with operational responsibilities, and to the private sector; and (5) review activities relating to noise, emissions, fuel consumption, and safety conducted by Federal agencies.
 
Specifies goals for the System.
 
Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 through 2010.
 
(Sec. 710) Directs the Secretary to establish a senior policy committee to work with the Next Generation Air Transportation System Joint Planning and Development Office.
 
(Sec. 711) Directs the FAA Administrator to establish a rotorcraft initiative with the objective of developing, and demonstrating in a relevant environment, within ten years, technologies to enable rotorcraft with specified improvements.
 
(Sec. 712) Amends Federal aviation law to direct the FAA Administrator to establish a four-year pilot airport cooperative research program, with an independent governing board, to: (1) identify problems shared by airport operating agencies which can be solved through applied research but are not being adequately addressed by existing Federal research programs; and (2) fund research to address those problems.
 
Requires the Secretary to arrange with the National Academy of Sciences to provide staff support to the governing board.
 

Title VIII: Miscellaneous
 - (Sec. 802) Requires the FAA Administrator to report to Congress on the long-term goals and objectives of the Aviation Safety Reporting System and how it interrelates with other Federal Government safety reporting systems. 
 
(Sec. 803) Requires the FAA Administrator to study and report to the appropriate congressional committees on the feasibility of consolidating the Anchorage Terminal Radar Approach Control and the Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control Center at the existing Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control Center facility.
 
(Sec. 804) Amends Federal aviation law to extend from FY 2004 through 2008 the Secretary's authority to approve an application by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority for an airport development project grant or to impose a passenger facility fee.
 
(Sec. 805) Amends Federal aviation law to revise the Secretary's mandate to collect and disseminate information on civil aeronautics including information on: (1) the origin and destination of passengers in interstate air transportation; and (2) the number of passengers traveling by air between any two points in interstate air transportation. Revises the prohibition against the Secretary's requiring an air carrier to provide information on the number of passengers or the amount of cargo on a specific flight if the flight and the flight number under which such flight operates are used solely for interstate air transportation and are not used for providing essential air transportation.
 
Declares instead that, if the Secretary requires air carriers to provide flight-specific information, the Secretary: (1) shall not disseminate fare information for a specific flight to the general public for a period of at least nine months following the date of the flight; and (2) shall give due consideration to and address confidentiality concerns of carriers, including competitive implications, in any rulemaking prior to adoption of a rule requiring the dissemination to the general public of any flight-specific fare.
 
(Sec. 806) Amends Federal aviation law to make an exception to the prohibition against requiring a contractor's certification, or a contract clause, in the case of a contract for the transportation of commercial items in order to implement a requirement related to Government-financed air transportation. Excludes from the meaning of commercial item any a contract for the transportation by air of passengers (thus allowing the requirement of certification or a contract clause.
 
(Sec. 807) Amends Federal aviation law to revise the definition of a citizen of the United States that is a corporation or association organized under the laws of the United States or a State, the District of Columbia, or a territory or possession of the United States. Requires such corporation or association, among other requirements, to be under the actual control of U.S. citizens.
 
(Sec. 808) Amends Federal aviation law relating to the requirements foreign aircraft permitted navigation in the United States must meet to receive permission also to take on for compensation, at a place in the United States, passengers or cargo destined for another place in the United States. Declares that eligible cargo taken on or off any aircraft at a place in Alaska in the course of transportation of that cargo by any combination of two or more air carriers or foreign air carriers in either direction between a place in the United States and a place outside the United States shall not be deemed to have broken its international journey in, be taken on in, or be destined for Alaska.
 
(Sec. 809) Amends Federal aviation law to require domestic and foreign air carrier plans addressing the needs of families of passengers involved in major aircraft accidents to include an assurance that in the case of an accident: (1) that results in significant damage to a manmade structure or other property on the ground that is not government-owned, the air carrier will promptly provide notice in writing directly to the owner of the structure or other property about liability for any property damage, means for obtaining compensation, and advice to use the property insurer, not the air carrier, as the authoritative source for coverage and compensation information; and (2) in which the National Transportation Safety Board conducts a public hearing or comparable proceeding at a location more than 80 miles from the accident site, the air carrier will ensure that the proceeding is made available simultaneously by electronic means at a location open to the public at both the origin city and destination city of the flight, if that city is located in the United States.
 
Requries the updating of all current plans to conform to these requirements.
 
(Sec. 810) Amends Federal aviation law to direct the Secretary to require an air carrier using an aircraft to provide scheduled passenger air transportation to display on an information placard available to each passenger a notice naming the nation in which the aircraft was finally assembled.
 
(Sec. 811) Amends Federal aviation law to state that, if the holder of a type certificate agrees to permit another person to use the certificate to manufacture a new aircraft, aircraft engine, propeller, or appliance, the holder shall provide the other person with written evidence of that agreement. Authorizes such other person to manufacture a new aircraft, aircraft engine, propeller, or appliance based on a type certificate only if such other person is the holder of the type certificate or has permission from the holder.
 
(Sec. 812) Directs the Secretary of State and the FAA Administrator, as part of their bilateral negotiations with foreign nations and their civil aviation counterparts, to facilitate the reciprocal airworthiness certification of aviation products. Defines reciprocal airworthiness certification of aviation products as meaning that the regulatory authorities of each nation perform a similar review in certifying or validating the certification of aircraft and aircraft components of other nations.
 
(Sec. 813) Amends Federal aviation law to repeal the Secretary's authority to develop and construct a civil supersonic aircraft.
 
Directs the FAA Administrator to promote and achieve global improvements in the safety, efficiency, and environmental effect of air travel by exercising leadership with the Administrator's foreign counterparts, in the International Civil Aviation Organization and its subsidiary organizations, and other international organizations and fora, and with the private sector.
 
 
(Sec. 814) Amends Federal aviation law to prohibit any person from serving as a flight attendant aboard an air carrier's aircraft unless that person holds a certificate of demonstrated proficiency from the FAA Administrator. Allows current flight attendants to continue to serve aboard an aircraft until completion of the required recurrent or requalification training and subsequent certification now required.
 
Requires the Administrator to issue a certificate of demonstrated proficiency to an individual after notification by the air carrier that the individual has successfully completed all approved training requirements.
 
Prescribes specifications for such certificates.
 
Subjects all air carrier flight attendant training programs to the Administrator's approval.
 
(Sec. 815) Directs the FAA Administrator to undertake the studies and analysis called for in the report of the National Research Council entitled &quot;The Airliner Cabin Environment and the Health of Passengers and Crew.&quot; Requires the Administrator at a minimum to: (1) conduct surveillance to monitor ozone in the cabin on a representative number of flights and aircraft to determine compliance with existing Federal Aviation Regulations; (2) collect pesticide exposure data to determine exposures of passengers and crew; (3) analyze samples of residue from aircraft ventilation ducts and filters after air quality incidents to identify the contaminants to which passengers and crew were exposed; (4) analyze and study cabin air pressure and altitude; (5) establish an air quality incident reporting system; and (6) report to Congress on the findings.
 
(Sec. 816) Directs the Secretary to report to Congress on any actions that should be taken with respect to recommendations made by the National Commission to Ensure Consumer Information and Choice in the Airline Industry on: (1) the travel agent arbiter program; and (2) the special box on tickets for agents to include their service fee charges.
 
(Sec. 817) Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to reimburse the following general aviation entities for the security costs incurred and revenue foregone as a result of the restrictions imposed by the Federal Government following the terrorist attacks on the United States that occurred on September 11, 2001: (1) general aviation entities that operate at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport; (2) airports located within 15 miles of Reagan National Airport that were operating under security restrictions on the date of enactment of this Act and general aviation entities operating at those airports; (3) general aviation entities affected by implementation of Federal law concerning flight instructors, pilot schools, or aviation training centers relating to flight training waiting periods and background check investigations for aliens and certain others; (4) general aviation entities affected by certain restrictions under specified FAA Notices to Airmen or related Federal law, or both; and (5) sightseeing operations that were not authorized to resume in enhanced class B air space under a specified FAA notice to airmen.
 
Defines general aviation entity as any person (other than a scheduled air carrier or foreign air carrier) that: (1) operates nonmilitary aircraft for the purpose of conducting its primary business; (2) manufactures nonmilitary aircraft with a maximum seating capacity of fewer than 20 passengers or aircraft parts to be used in such aircraft; (3) provides services necessary for nonmilitary operations; or (4) operates an airport, other than a primary airport, that is listed in the FAA-developed national plan of integrated airport systems or is normally open to the public, is located within the confines of enhanced class B airspace, and was closed as a result of an FAA order issued in the period between September 11, 2001, and January 1, 2002, and remained closed as a result of that order on January 1, 2002.
 
Includes in such term fixed based operators, flight schools, manufacturers of general aviation aircraft and products, persons engaged in nonscheduled aviation enterprises, and general aviation independent contractors.
 
Authorizes appropriations.
 
(Sec. 818) Directs the Secretary of Defense to coordinate with the Secretary and the Secretary of Commerce any necessary activities the Secretary of Defense conducts to enable the United States to host a major international air show in the United States.
 
(Sec. 819) Requires the Department of Commerce to report to specified congressional committees on market developments and government policies influencing the competitiveness of the U.S. jet transport aircraft industry that: (1) describes the structural characteristics of the U.S. and the European Union jet transport industries, and the markets for them; (2) examines the global market factors affecting the jet transport industries in the United States and the European Union; (3) reviews government regulations in the United States and the European Union that have altered the competitive landscape for jet transport aircraft; (4) analyzes how changes in the global market and government regulations have affected the competitive position of the United States aerospace and aviation industry vis-&agrave;-vis the European Union aerospace and aviation industry; and (5) describes any other significant developments that affect the market for jet transport aircraft.
 
(Sec. 820) Declares that it is the sense of Congress that, in an effort to modernize its regulations, the Department of Transportation should formally define &quot;Fifth Freedom&quot; and &quot;Seventh Freedom&quot; consistently for both scheduled and charter passenger and cargo traffic.
 
(Sec. 821) Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, subject to the availability of funds (other than amounts in the Aviation Trust Fund) provided for this purpose, to reimburse air carriers and airports for: (1) the screening of catering supplies; and (2) checking documents at security checkpoints.
 
(Sec. 822) Amends Federal aviation law to revise the requirement that regularly scheduled charter air transportation, in aircraft designed for more than nine passenger seats, fly to and from only airports with an airport operating certificate. Prohibits such a flight to or from and airport with such a certificate if it is a reliever airport, designated in the national plan of integrated airports, which is located within 20 nautical miles (22 statute miles) of three or more airports that each annually account for at least one percent of the total U.S. passenger enplanements and at least two of which are operated by the reliever airport's sponsor.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to waive these requirements if the public interest so requires.
 
(Sec. 823) Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop and implement a security plan to permit general aviation aircraft to land and take off at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
 
Requires the President, if the security plan is suspended for national security concerns, to report the reasons for the suspension to specified congressional committees with 30 days after the suspension.
 
(Sec. 824) Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress on the criteria and procedures used by the Secretary of Transportation under the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act (Public Law 107-42) to compensate air carriers after the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, with a particular focus on whether it is appropriate to: (1) compensate air carriers for the decrease in value of their aircraft after September 11, 2001; and (2) ensure that comparable air carriers receive comparable percentages of the maximum compensation payable under such Act.
 
(Sec. 825) Authorizes the sponsor of a commercial service airport that does not own the airport land and is a party to a long-term lease agreement with a Federal agency (other than the Department of Defense or the Department of Transportation) to impose restrictions (with reasonable exemptions for public health and safety) on, or prohibit, the operation of Stage 2 aircraft weighing less than 75,000 pounds, in order to help meet the noise control plan contained within the lease agreement.
 
(Sec. 826) Directs the Comptroller General to analyze for Congress the financial condition of the U.S. airline industry in its efforts to reduce the costs and improve the earnings and profits and balances of each individual air carrier. Requires the report to recommend steps that the industry should take to become financially self-sufficient.
 
(Sec. 827) Directs the Secretary to permit, under specified Federal operating rules where common carriage is not involved, a company, located in the State of Alaska, to organize a subsidiary where the only enterprise of the subsidiary is to provide air carriage of officials, employees, guests, and property of the company, or its affiliate, when the carriage: (1) originates or terminates in Alaska; (2) is by an aircraft with no more than 20 seats; (3) is within the scope of, and incidental to, the business of the company or its affiliate; and (4) no charge, assessment, or fee is made for the carriage in excess of the cost of owning, operating, and maintaining the airplane.
 
(Sec. 828) Directs the Secretary to report to Congress on all waivers during a specified two-year period of the preference for buying goods produced in the United States for certain authorized FAA expenditures, air navigation facilities, safety demonstration projects with respect to facilities, personnel, and research, certain airport improvement demonstration projects (except ground transportation demonstration projects), or certain projects authorized under the Airport and Airway Trust Fund.
 
 
(Sec. 829) Amends the Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act of July 5, 1884 to allow property taxes on vessels or watercraft, other than vessels or watercraft that are primarily engaged in foreign commerce if those taxes are permissible under the U.S. Constitution.
 

Title IX: Extension of Airport and Airway Trust Fund Expenditure Authority
 - (Sec. 901) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) extend the Airport and Airway Trust Fund expenditure authority through FY 2007; and (2) declare that, if an amount is paid during a calendar year for a domestic flight segment beginning in a later calendar year, then the rate of the domestic segment air transportation tax on such amount shall be the rate in effect for the calendar year in which such amount is paid.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-12-12
text: Became Public Law No: 108-176.
action_date: 2003-12-12
text: Became Public Law No: 108-176.
action_date: 2003-12-12
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2003-12-12
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2003-12-02
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2003-12-02
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Senate agreed to conference report by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Motion by Senator Frist to reconsider the vote by which cloture on the conference report was not invoked (Roll Call Vote No. 453) was withdrawn in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2003-11-21
text: Conference report considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S15385-15390)
action_date: 2003-11-17
text: Motion by Senator Frist to reconsider the vote by which cloture on the conference report was not invoked (Roll Call Vote No. 453) was entered in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2003-11-17
text: Cloture not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 45 - 43. Record Vote Number: 453.
action_date: 2003-11-17
text: Conference report considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S14940-14952)
action_date: 2003-11-14
text: Cloture motion on the conference report to accompany H.R. 2115 presented in Senate.
action_date: 2003-11-14
text: Conference report considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S14858)
action_date: 2003-10-30
text: Conference papers: and message on House action held at the desk in Senate.
action_date: 2003-10-30
text: Motions to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2003-10-30
text: On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by recorded vote: 211 - 207 (Roll no. 592).
action_date: 2003-10-30
text: Conference report agreed to in House: On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by recorded vote: 211 - 207 (Roll no. 592).
action_date: 2003-10-30
text: On motion to recommit with instructions to conference committee Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 197 - 219 (Roll no. 591).
action_date: 2003-10-30
text: The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions to conference committee was ordered without objection.
action_date: 2003-10-30
text: Mr. Oberstar moved to recommit with instructions to the conference committee. (consideration: CR 10/31/2003 H10187-10188; text: CR 10/31/2003 H10187-10188)
action_date: 2003-10-30
text: The previous question was ordered without objection.
action_date: 2003-10-30
text: DEBATE - The House resumed debate on the conference report to accompany H.R. 2115.
action_date: 2003-10-30
text: DEBATE - The House continued with debate on the conference report to accompany H.R. 2115.
action_date: 2003-10-30
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the conference report to accompany H.R. 2115.
action_date: 2003-10-30
text: Mr. Mica brought up conference report H. Rept. 108-334 for consideration under the provisions of H. Res. 422. (consideration: CR H10163-10170, CR 10/31/2003 H10176-10189)
action_date: 2003-10-30
text: Rule H. Res. 422 passed House.
action_date: 2003-10-29
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 422 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of the conference report to H.R. 2115. All points of order against the conference report and against its consideration are waived. The conference report shall be considered as read when called up for consideration.
action_date: 2003-10-29
text: Conference papers: Senate report and manager's statement held at the desk in Senate.
action_date: 2003-10-29
text: Conference report H. Rept. 108-334 filed. (text of conference report: CR H10008-10054)
action_date: 2003-10-29
text: Conference report filed: Conference report H. Rept. 108-334 filed.(text of conference report: CR H10008-10054)
action_date: 2003-10-28
text: House recommitted conference report pursuant to H. Res. 377.
action_date: 2003-10-28
text: Rule H. Res. 377 passed House.
action_date: 2003-09-24
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 377 Reported to House. Upon the adoption of this resolution, the conference report to accompany H.R. 2115 is hereby recommitted to the committee of conference.
action_date: 2003-07-28
text: Conference papers: Senate report and manager's statement held at the desk in Senate.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Conference report H. Rept. 108-240 filed. (text of conference report: CR H7718-7764)
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Conference report filed: Conference report H. Rept. 108-240 filed.(text of conference report: CR H7718-7764)
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Conferees agreed to file conference report.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Conference committee actions: Conferees agreed to file conference report.
action_date: 2003-07-24
text: Conference held.
action_date: 2003-07-24
text: Conference committee actions: Conference held.
action_date: 2003-07-15
text: The Speaker appointed conferees - from the Committee on Ways and Means for consideration of title VI of the House bill and title VII of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Thomas, Camp, and Rangel.
action_date: 2003-07-15
text: The Speaker appointed conferees - from the Committee on Science for consideration of sec. 102 of the House bill and secs. 102, 104, 621, 622, 641, 642, 661, 662, 663, 667, and 669 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Boehlert, Rohrabacher, and Costello.
action_date: 2003-07-15
text: The Speaker appointed conferees Provided that Mr. Renzi is appointed in lieu of Mr. Pombo for consideration of sec. 409 of the House bill, and modifications committed to conference.
action_date: 2003-07-15
text: The Speaker appointed conferees - from the Committee on Resources for consideration of secs. 204 and 409 of the House bill and sec. 201 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Pombo, Gibbons, and Rahall.
action_date: 2003-07-15
text: The Speaker appointed conferees - from the Committee on the Judiciary for consideration of secs. 106, 301, 405, 505 and 507 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Sensenbrenner, Coble, and Conyers.
action_date: 2003-07-15
text: The Speaker appointed conferees - from the Committee on Government Reform for consideration of secs. 404 and 438 of the House bill and sec. 108 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Davis, Tom, Shays, and Waxman.
action_date: 2003-07-15
text: The Speaker appointed conferees - from the Committee on Energy and Commerce for consideration of sec. 521 of the House bill and sec. 508 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Tauzin, Barton (TX), and Dingell.
action_date: 2003-07-15
text: The Speaker appointed conferees - from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for consideration of the House bill and the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Young (AK), Mica, Ehlers, Hayes, Rehberg, Isakson, Oberstar, DeFazio, Boswell, and Holden.
action_date: 2003-07-15
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2003-07-15
text: On motion that the House instruct conferees Agreed to by voice vote.
action_date: 2003-07-15
text: The previous question was ordered without objection.
action_date: 2003-07-15
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the DeFazio motion to instruct conferees. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the managers on the part of the House to insist upon a total level of funding of not less than $59 billion for fiscal years 2004 through 2007 for programs authorized pursuant to secs. 101 through 103 of the bill.
action_date: 2003-07-15
text: Mr. DeFazio moved that the House instruct conferees.
action_date: 2003-07-15
text: On motion that the House disagree to the Senate amendment, and agree to a conference Agreed to without objection. (consideration: CR H6825-6826)
action_date: 2003-07-15
text: Mr. Mica asked unanimous consent that the House disagree to the Senate amendment, and agree to a conference.
action_date: 2003-06-16
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: See also S.824.
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Senate insists on its amendment, asks for a conference, appoints conferees McCain; Stevens; Burns; Lott; Hutchison; Hollings; Inouye; Rockefeller; Breaux.
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 94 - 0. Record Vote Number: 225. (text: CR 6/13/2003 S7884-7902)
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 94 - 0. Record Vote Number: 225.(text: CR 6/13/2003 S7884-7902)
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Senate struck all after the Enacting Clause and substituted the language of S.824 amended.
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7820)
action_date: 2003-06-12
text: Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 134.
action_date: 2003-06-11
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2003-06-11
text: The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 2115.
action_date: 2003-06-11
text: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 418 - 8 (Roll no. 264).
action_date: 2003-06-11
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 418 - 8 (Roll no. 264).
action_date: 2003-06-11
text: The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 2115.
action_date: 2003-06-11
text: POSTPONED VOTE - At the conclusion of debate on the Pitts amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the yeas had prevailed. Mr. Mica demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until later in the legislative day.
action_date: 2003-06-11
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to H. Res. 265, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Pitts amendment.
action_date: 2003-06-11
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to H. Res. 265, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Peterson (PA) amendment.
action_date: 2003-06-11
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to H. Res. 265, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Norton amendment.
action_date: 2003-06-11
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to H. Res. 265, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Mica amedment.
action_date: 2003-06-11
text: POSTPONED VOTE - At the conclusion of debate on the Manzullo amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the yeas had prevailed. Mr. Manzullo demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until later in the legislative day.
action_date: 2003-06-11
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to H. Res. 265, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Manzullo amendment.
action_date: 2003-06-11
text: GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 2115.
action_date: 2003-06-11
text: The Speaker designated the Honorable Charles F. Bass to act as Chairman of the Committee.
action_date: 2003-06-11
text: House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 265 and Rule XXIII.
action_date: 2003-06-11
text: Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2115 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. All points of order against the bill are waived. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure now printed in the bill, as modified by the amendment printed in part A of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
action_date: 2003-06-11
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 265. (consideration: CR H5201-5239)
action_date: 2003-06-11
text: ORDER OF PROCEDURE - Mr. Mica asked unanimous consent that during consideration of H.R. 2115 in the Committee of the Whole pursuant to H. Res. 265, the amendment numbered 5 printed in House Report 108-146 be considered first and out of order. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2003-06-11
text: Rule H. Res. 265 passed House.
action_date: 2003-06-10
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 265 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2115 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. All points of order against the bill are waived. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure now printed in the bill, as modified by the amendment printed in part A of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
action_date: 2003-06-06
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 72.
action_date: 2003-06-06
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 108-143.
action_date: 2003-06-06
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 108-143.
action_date: 2003-06-05
text: Mr. Mica asked unanimous consent that the Committee on Transportation have until midnight on June 6 to file a report on H.R. 2115. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2003-05-21
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2003-05-21
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2003-05-20
text: Referred to Subcommittee on Aviation.
action_date: 2003-05-20
text: Subcommittee on Aviation Consideration and Markup Held Prior to Introduction and Referral (May 14, 2003).
action_date: 2003-05-15
text: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
action_date: 2003-05-15
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-05-15
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 108-176