Hearing Report: House Aviation Subcommittee Reviews Airport Funding, Safety and Regulatory Issues

Hearing Report: House Aviation Subcommittee Reviews Airport Funding, Safety and Regulatory Issues
April 8, 2025

Today, the House Aviation Subcommittee held a hearing on “America Builds: Airport Infrastructure, Safety, and Regulatory Environment” to discuss airport infrastructure investments and regulatory challenges after passage of the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act.

• Michael Landguth, A.A.E., President and Chief Executive Officer, Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority (RDU)
• Lawrence Krauter, A.A.E., AICP, FRAeS, Chief Executive Officer, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
• Andre Sutton, International Vice President and Director of Air Division, Transport Workers Union of America (TWU AFL-CIO)

Key Issues:
During today’s well-attended hearing before the House Aviation Subcommittee, CVG’s Larry Krauter and RDU’s Mike Landguth effectively made the case for increased investment in airports and regulatory streamlining. The airport duo spurred significant interest and discussion among subcommittee members about existing timelines for project review and completion and the significant challenges that airports face collectively in meeting growing infrastructure needs given the current airport financing paradigm.

• Airport Funding: Lawmakers and witnesses highlighted the increases in AIP funding and changes in the formula that benefit airports under the 2024 FAA law. Additionally, they emphasized the need for further funding tools to address airport infrastructure needs nationwide. Larry Krauter and Michael Landguth called on Congress to increase or eliminate the cap on the PFC, in addition to consideration of continuing the Airport Terminal Grant program from the infrastructure law passed during the Biden administration. They emphasized the challenges airports will have meeting future capacity, competition and safety needs without additional funding, including increased debt and delays in projects. Notably, lawmakers on both side of the aisle noted the fact that the federal cap on local PFCs was last adjusted a quarter century ago.  
  
  
• Regulatory Streamlining: Krauter and Landguth testified about frustrations with the current regulatory approval process and praised many of the efforts in the FAA law to streamline the process. They recommended setting clear deadlines for FAA to expedite project approvals, allowing airports to manage project timelines and costs more effectively. Lawmakers agreed that overseeing FAA's regulatory streamlining will be a committee priority. Both had examples of specific projects at their airports that helped bolster the case for regulatory reform to reduce the costs and timelines for key projects.   
  
  
• Safety: Given the fatal DCA crash and other recent incidents, lawmakers raised concerns about funding for safety projects at airports, including tower and equipment upgrades. Airport witnesses highlighted collaboration with the FAA on issues like incorporating Advance Air Mobility vehicles into the airport environment but also returned to funding access to ensure projects are completed in a timely manner to enhance safety.
  
  
• Other Issues: ATC modernization was a topic of discussion today. Additionally, several subcommittee members highlighted the importance of providing funding to assist airports with the transition to fluorine-free firefighting foam.

• Today’s hearing may be viewed here.