AIR-21 Takes Off

House and Senate Reach Agreement On Aviation Bill

Washington, D.C.-Safer skies and fewer delays are on the way for air travelers. House and Senate negotiators, including Congressman Vernon Ehlers, have announced that they have reached an agreement on the Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR-21) after six months of negotiation. In addition to improvements for passengers, the bill also guarantees that money in the Aviation Trust Fund will be used solely for airport improvement programs and on modernizing the nation's air traffic control equipment, instead of being diverted for other purposes.

"This bill will give a tremendous boost to our air traffic control system and ensures that future passengers will have the safest and most efficient system of air travel available to them," said Congressman Vern Ehlers (R-Grand Rapids) who served as a member of the House-Senate negotiating team. "I'm extremely pleased that this agreement finally allows the money from the trust fund to be used only for its intended purpose. With the expected increase in air travel over the next ten years, it is vital that this money be available to help with the numerous improvement projects across the country."

Locally, the Gerald R. Ford International Airport will benefit from the agreement. In December, the airport was forced to delay plans for the $35 million reconstruction of the airport's east-west runway because an agreement had not been reached. Once the agreement is approved by the Congress and the President, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be able to approve funding, and the local airport will be able to schedule the runway renovation project.

The legislation also includes an Ehlers-backed provision that changes current law to make certain this runway rehabilitation is eligible for funding from the FAA. Under current law, it would be very difficult for the FAA to approve advance funding of the project because it will not add capacity to the national airspace system. With this added provision and the increased funding in the bill, the airport should be able to move forward with this project soon.

The AIR-21 conference report is expected to be voted on later this week or next week by the House and Senate .