Legislative Priorities
Federal Legislative Priorities 2022
DBQ encourages increasing spending levels through the appropriation process for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), Essential Air Service, Contract Tower Program, and other programs that provide for the safe operation, development, and maintenance of facilities at airports around the country.
DBQ supports the Bipartisan Senate Infrastructure Bill passed as an amendment to H.R. 3684, the INVEST in America Act.
The bill contains $25 billion in new general fund revenue over the next 5 fiscal years for airports and air traffic control facilities. Included in this funding is $15 billion for AIP formula grants, $5 billion for a new airport terminal program, and $5 billion for the FAA to improve air traffic control facilities, of which $200 million is set aside for FAA-owned contract towers. Of the $15 billion for airport infrastructure grants, $2.5 billion would be reserved for nonprimary commercial service and general aviation airports over five years – or $500 million annually.
DBQ Air Traffic Control Tower original built in 19XX (?) at 50 years the structure is old, antiquated, lacks storage and infrastructure to sustain DBQ growing aircraft operations. DBQ is currently 223 out of 500 on the list or improvements. At 75,000 aircraft operations (highest in Iowa and tri state area) funding is a priority to keep.
As the House prepares to consider the infrastructure bill, we urge lawmakers to amend the bill and adjust the outdated federal cap on local PFCs, increasing the cap to $8.50 and indexing it to inflation, ensuring long term funding viability for even the smallest of commercial service airports.
DBQ Requests Congress authorize $4 billion in FY2022 for the Airport Improvement Program.
Monies collected and deposited in the Airport and Airway Trust Fund must be protected from Sequestration or FAA operating uses.
AIP grants for FY22 - FY23 should be based on CY19 enplanements, rather than on CY21 enplanements.
DBQ Requests Congress to fully fund the EAS program in the FY22 DOT spending bill and eliminate the Public Law No. 112-95 restrictions on airport eligibility to participate.
There are 174 communities nationwide receiving EAS subsidized air service. IPAA strongly supports fully funding the Essential Air Service Program and elimination of the Public Law No. 112-95 restrictions on airport eligibility to participate.
DBQ Requests Congress to fully fund the Contract Tower program in the FY22 DOT spending bill
United States Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General Report Number AV-2013-009, found that “a contract tower cost, on average, about $1.5 million less to operate than a similar FAA tower.” The report further stated, “contract towers had a significantly lower number and rate of safety incidents compared to similar FAA towers.”
DBQ Requests Congress to pass liability legislation that hold airports harmless for present and past use of PFOAS and PFAS in Aqueous Film Forming Foam mandated by the FAA and provide funding for the proper clean up and disposal of AFFF products manufactured with PFAS once an alternative is approved by the FAA.
DBQ strongly opposes diversion of fuel taxes from the sale of jet fuel to the Highway Trust Fund.
State Legislative Priorities 2022
ARPA Funds Airport Allocation - DBQ respectfully requests - Allocate $100 Million of existing $1.5 Billion ARPA funds toward vertical airport improvement infrastructure.
Commercial passengers, cargo, corporate and general aviation communities, Iowa’s system of airports needs significant investment if Iowa is to remain competitive in today’s global marketplace. 2020 State Aviation System Plan (SASP) https://sites.jviation.com/2020-iowa-aviation-system-plan/news.html identifies needs.
The Iowa Public Airports Association respectfully requests an increased budget commitment to STRENGTHEN Iowa’s airport system.
Keep Iowa Aviation Employers Competitive - DBQ Respectfully Requests Support of both the Iowa House and Senate Members for the previously proposed HF-2573 Aircraft Parts and Labor Taxes.
Thirty-Four States have the sales tax exemption, including all but one state surrounding Iowa driving repair work and subsequent revenue to neighboring states. This bill is about helping Iowa employers offer competitive pricing to rival prices offered by out-of-state companies, an especially important consideration when planes are, by definition, very mobile. NOTE: This is NOT a tax break nor a tax diversion for aviation companies – rather an initiative of being competitive with businesses providing aircraft maintenance services in States neighboring Iowa, such as: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska that are considered No Tax States; with, South Dakota currently at 4.50%, whereby in Iowa, current Tax Rates are at 6.0% and up to 2.0% local. Help keep aviation maintenance jobs in Iowa!
House File 2573 was approved by the House of Representatives on a vote of 89-7 on March 5, 2020, however, less than a week later, the Legislative Session was shut down due to the COVID Pandemic.
Construction Management at Risk (CMAR) - DBQ Respectfully Requests Support Existing Bill SF 183
The bill allows for the use of CMAR on public projects. The bill also prohibits the use of design build on public projects. Relating to a construction manager-at-risk commercial construction alternative delivery method and prohibiting certain other alternative delivery methods in the public sector and including effective date and applicability provisions.
PFA / PFOA Proposed Legislation - DBQ Respectfully Requests Monitor - oppose any legislation that holds airports liable for the use or cleanup of AFFF firefighting foam or its residue respectively.
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemicals that include Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA). AFFF firefighting foam has been mandated for use by the Federal Aviation Administration with no approved substitute to date.