U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls representing Texas' 22nd Congressional District | Official U.S. House headshot
U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls representing Texas' 22nd Congressional District | Official U.S. House headshot
Washington, D.C. - Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX) addressed a hearing focused on "America Builds: Airport Infrastructure, Safety, and the Regulatory Environment." The hearing included valuable insights from a panel of witnesses to discuss the current state of national airports.
"The United States has over 3,200 airports ranging from large hub commercial service airports to small and general aviation airports," Nehls stated. Airports play a crucial role in connecting communities and promoting economic development across the nation.
In 2024, U.S. airports handled over 987 million passenger enplanements and supported 101 million aircraft operations. These numbers are projected to climb, with passenger enplanements expected to reach nearly one billion in 2025 and 1.4 billion by 2040.
To address the infrastructure requirements prompted by this anticipated growth, industry estimates suggest that nearly $174 billion in investments will be necessary over the next five years. Nehls emphasized the importance of federal investment in airport infrastructure for the safety and economic prosperity of the aviation sector.
He highlighted challenges with the primary federal airport capital program, the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). The AIP had suffered from stagnant funding, increased administrative burdens, and growing infrastructure needs, which negatively affected its efficiency. As a response, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 introduced enhanced funding and reforms for airport projects.
Within the FDA bill, AIP funding was boosted to $4 billion annually. It also offered flexibility in using AIP funds, introduced environmental streamlining reform to expand projects excluded from NEPA reviews, and aimed to reduce bureaucratic constraints for quicker project completion.
Nehls reflected on the importance of ensuring smooth implementation of these provisions, "Now we must work to ensure that these provisions are implemented on time and the way that Congress intended."
The hearing also provided an opportunity for Congress to deliberate on ongoing airport infrastructure needs and promote regulatory stability, aiding airports to plan and invest in capital improvements strategically.
Emphasizing safety, Nehls mentioned, "As we work with President Trump and Secretary Duffy on the Administration’s vision to modernize our national airspace system, it is important to discuss airfield and surface safety needs as a part of such effort."
He concluded by expressing appreciation for the witnesses' participation and an eagerness to hear their testimonies.
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