The Ferguson Group Blog

Traveling? Keep Your Knives at Home

On June 5, TSA announced that it is dropping its highly contentious plan to allow small knives on commercial flights. TSA issued the following statement:  "TSA strongly values the input of our partners and traveling public, and appreciates the varying points of view shared throughout the review process. After extensive engagement with the Aviation Security Advisory Committee, law enforcement officials, passenger advocates and other important stakeholders, TSA will continue to enforce the current prohibited items list."

In other agency news, Representative Paul Broun (R-GA) offered an amendment to the House Homeland Security Appropriations bill to eliminate TSA. That amendment was defeated. 

Huge Victory for Contract Towers

On Friday afternoon, the Department of Transportation began notifying congressional offices that the FAA will continue funding through September for the 149 contract towers slated to lose funding on June 15, 2013. Shortly thereafter, the airports received an email from FAA to confirm. The TFG-managed General Aviation Airport Coalition was part of an all-hands-on-deck lobby effort that resulted in widespread congressional support and a bill signed into law to allow FAA the flexibility to shift funds around to pay for the towers.  The contract tower program was originally slated to receive an approximate 75% cut from the sequester – not 5% like most other programs.  These towers and the general aviation airports they serve have a reprieve for now.  Funding for FY 2014 is the next battle, but we’ll enjoy the news for a few days!

 

FAA Reauthorization

After 23 extensions over four years, the FAA Reauthorization bill will finally be signed into law.  On January 6, the U.S. Senate passed the conference report accompanying H.R. 658, the FAA Reauthorization bill, by a roll call vote of 75 to 20. The House approved the measure last week.  The bill includes funding for the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program - $3.35 billion per year for four years, and reduces the federal cost share for AIP from 95% to 90% - requiring non-federal sponsors to spend more on these projects. The bill also increases the federal cap for control tower construction from $1.5 million to $2 million.

- Posted by Jennifer Imo, The Ferguson Group