The Aviation Investment and Reform Act (H.R. 1000) would use money that has accumulated in the Aviation Trust Fund for improvements in the nation's aviation infrastructure.  While the flying public and the aviation community have been investing in the Airport and Aviation Trust Fund, in the form of ticket taxes, fuel taxes, flight segment fees, and departure and arrival taxes, since 1970, only a portion of the fund has been spent on the aviation infrastructure.  If left unchanged, the balance in the fund will grow to more than $90 billion, according to Bereuter, who is a strong supporter of this effort to take the Aviation Trust Fund off budget.

Aviation Trust Fund money is distributed through the Airport Improvement Program as entitlement grants and discretionary grants.  Primary airport entitlement grants go to airports that have commercial air service with at least 10,000 passenger boardings per year.  In Nebraska, Eppley Airfield in Omaha, Lincoln Municipal Airport, Central Nebraska Regional Airport in Grand Island, William B. Heilig Field in Scottsbluff, and North Platte Regional Airport are classified as primary airports.

With the increased authorization in the legislation under consideration, these primary Nebraska airports would all see a substantial increase in their entitlements: Eppley Airfield from $2,381,352 to $7,144,056; Lincoln Municipal Airport from $1,059,864 to $3,179,592; Central Regional Airport from $500,000 to $1,500,000; Scottsbluff's William B. Heilig Field from $500,000 to $1,500,000; and North Platte Regional Airport from $500,000 to $1,500,000.  The total amount of primary airport funds coming into Nebraska would increase from $4,941,216 to $14,823,648.

The General Accounting Office has reported that nationally there is a $3 billion annual funding shortfall on airport infrastructure investment.  The legislation increases funding for the Airport Improvement Program, the program that builds runways, taxiways, and provides noise abatement from $1.95 billion to $5 billion annually, according to Bereuter.

"This action is clearly needed to restore integrity to these funds and help ensure that they are used for their intended purposes," Bereuter said.  "Congress was successful last year in ensuring that money placed in the Highway Trust Fund is used for highway construction and maintenance.  Similar action should be taken with the other transportation trust funds."

The aviation reform bill will also ensure annual entitlements for 26 of Nebraska's general aviation airports, which is something they cannot now count on.