Expanding Regional Airports Act

Bill: 119-hr-3085
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]
Introduced: 2025-04-29
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Latest action: action_date: 2025-04-29
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-04-29
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Expanding Regional Airports Act</strong></p><p>This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a grant program for general aviation and nonprimary commercial service airports to improve passenger and flight capacity.</p><p>Grants may be used for (1) activities that improve passenger and flight capacity at the airport, including the expansion of passenger and property screening facilities, runway lengthening, construction of hangars and associated infrastructure, and improving passenger facilities; and (2) costs incurred to comply with certain operational and security requirements.</p><p>DOT must provide 3 to 10 grants per fiscal year to eligible airports (i.e., general aviation or nonprimary commercial service airports that serve a community with a population of at least 75,000).</p>

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3085 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 29, 2025 Mr. Vasquez (for himself and Mr. Mann ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To amend title 49, United States Code, to establish a program to provide assistance to underserved airports to improve passenger and flight capacity, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Expanding Regional Airports Act . 2. Regional airport expansion program (a) In general Chapter 417 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: IV Regional Airport Expansion Program 41781. Grants for growing regional airports (a) In general The Secretary of Transportation shall establish a program to provide grants to eligible airports to improve passenger and flight capacity. (b) Eligible uses An eligible airport may use a grant provided under this section for— (1) activities that improve passenger and flight capacity at such airport, including— (A) the expansion of passenger and property screening facilities; (B) runway lengthening; (C) construction of hangars and associated infrastructure; and (D) improving passenger facilities; and (2) costs incurred to comply with operational and security requirements under part 139 or part 154 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, or part 1542 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. (c) Grant requirements In carrying out the program established under this section, the Secretary shall provide not less than 3 and not more than 10 grants to eligible airports in each fiscal year. (d) Eligible airport defined In this section, the term eligible airport means an airport that— (1) is a general aviation airport or a nonprimary commercial service airport (as determined by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration); and (2) serves a community with a population of at least 75,000. 41782. Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal year $50,000,000 to carry out section 41781. . (b) Technical amendment The analysis for chapter 417 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 41767 the following: Subchapter IV—Regional Airport Expansion Program 41781. Grants for growing regional airports. 41782. Authorization of appropriations. .