Airport Alert: House Committee Proposes to Restore and Extend Airport TIFIA Program
May 18, 2026
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee late yesterday unveiled a multi-year surface transportation reauthorization bill that proposes to restore and extend the airport TIFIA program, which expired on September 30, 2025.
Late yesterday, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA) unveiled the BUILD America 250 Act – a five-year surface transportation reauthorization bill that will “invest in America’s roads, bridges, transit, rail transportation, and highway and motor carrier safety programs.”
TIFIA for Airports: The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which Congress passed in 2021, expanded the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act to include airport projects. The Sacramento International Airport received a low interest TIFIA loan in 2025 to help build a skybridge project. However, airports interested in obtaining credit assistance were required to submit their proposals to DOT before the September 30, 2025 deadline.
AAAE and ACI-NA have been urging Congress to restore and extend the airport TIFIA program to help airports finance critical infrastructure projects. The BUILD America 250 Act would extend the Airport TIFIA program, allowing up to “15 percent of TIFIA funds for airport-related projects.”
Transportation Assistance for International Games: The American 250 Act would also provide transportation assistance for airports, other state and local government entities, and metropolitan planning organizations dealing with “major international sporting events, including Olympic, Paralympic, and FIFA World Cup events.” The bill authorizes $50 million annually through FY31 for the program that would provide grants for “transportation projects and planning activities.” Eligible airports include those within a 100-mile radius of the covered sporting events.
What’s Next? The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is planning to mark up the surface transportation reauthorization bill on Thursday.
Related Information
- T&I Committee press release.
- Section-by-section summary.
- Draft bill text.
