House Backs Airports, Alternative Fuels Funding

The sweeping House-passed infrastructure bill forwards several key aviation provisions that include support for renewable fuels, airport funding, and workforce development. H.R.2, the Invest in America Act, cleared the House yesterday by a 233-188 vote that fell largely along party lines.

While the overall package itself has little Senate support and is in doubt, a number of the measures within H.R.2 are expected to move forward through other legislation, and the inclusion of the aviation measures strengthens their possibility of advancing.

These include a measure to authorize the Department of Transportation to promote transportation careers, including those involving aviation, through digital, broadcast, and print media, to attract a new and diverse generation of workers. Other measures would provide $4 billion in annual funding for the Airport Improvement Program with an additional $3 billion in grant funding for 2021. The legislation also would support finance techniques for small commercial airports and includes $30 million annually for renewable aviation fuel research.

NBAA lauded the inclusion of the aviation measures. “As we continue to grapple with the Covid-19 pandemic, it is critically important that we promote a strong and sustainable business aviation community with a highly skilled and diverse workforce to lead us forward,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen.” We are pleased that House lawmakers took into account several of our industry’s priorities.”