The airport industry is reacting positively to a $1.5 trillion infrastructure bill introduced by House Democrats last week.
The “Moving Forward Act” would allocate $100 billion in transit, while at the same time attempting to reduce carbon pollution from the transportation sector. Airports would get a boost to infrastructure funding through the Airport Improvement Program fund.
The bill is expected to be voted on in the U.S. House of Representatives before the group breaks for the Independence Day holiday.
“American airports are grateful House Democrats included additional funding for the Airport Improvement Program in the Moving Forward Act,” said ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin Burke. “Airports across the country are deferring infrastructure projects as they grapple with the steep, sustained loss in revenue that resulted from COVID-19. The additional funding for airports’ projects would help them immediately invest in infrastructure that will spur local economic growth by putting thousands of Americans back to work.”
American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) President and CEO Todd Hauptli also hailed the effort. “Further investments in America’s airports will pay dividends now and for generations to come through job creation and the enhancement of facilities to meet post-coronavirus needs and the return of robust travel levels,” he said. “We are grateful that Chairman DeFazio and House leaders recognize that fact and have proposed significant funding to build the airport infrastructure our country needs. We look forward to working with members of both parties on both sides of the Capitol and with the Administration to make the promise of additional airport investment a reality.”
