House Appropriations Committee Issues Report on DOT, HUD, Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2018 (Part 2 of 8)
FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT
The Committee recommends
Regional offices/noise.--The Committee recognizes the critical role played by
Controller workforce.--The Committee directs
NEXTGEN AND OPERATIONS PLANNING
The Committee recommends
SECURITY AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY
The Committee recommends
STAFF OFFICES
The Committee recommends
BILL LANGUAGE
Second career training program.--The bill retains language prohibiting the use of funds for the second career training program. This prohibition has been in annual appropriations Acts for many years, and is included in the President's budget request.
Aviation user fees.--The bill includes a limitation carried for several years prohibiting funds from being used to finalize or implement any new unauthorized user fees.
Aeronautical charting and cartography.--The bill maintains the provision prohibiting funds in this Act from being used to conduct aeronautical charting and cartography (AC&C;) activities through the working capital fund (WCF).
Credits.--The bill includes language allowing funds received from specified public, private, and foreign sources for expenses incurred to be credited to the appropriation.
Contract weather observers.--The bill includes language which prohibits funds to eliminate the
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
(AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................
Budget request, fiscal year 2018...................... 2,766,200,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 2,855,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2018.................. +88,800,000
(RESCISSION)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017....................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2018...................... -31,200,000
Recommended in the bill............................... - - -
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017................... - - -
Budget request, fiscal year 2018.................. +31,200,000
The Facilities and Equipment (F&E;) account is the principal means for modernizing and improving air traffic control and airway facilities. The appropriation also finances major capital investments required by other agency programs, experimental research and development facilities, and other improvements to enhance the safety and capacity of the airspace system.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends an appropriation of
Satellite and global positioning systems
The following table provides funding levels for facilities and equipment activities and budget line items.
(TABLE OMITTED)
Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and international traffic management.--The Committee provides
Next generation very high frequency air/ground communications (
DataComm.--The Committee provides
Reduced oceanic separation/SBS advanced surveillance enhanced procedural separation.--The Committee provides
Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System/Terminal Automation Modernization Replacement Program (STARS/
Terminal airport traffic control facilities--replace.--The Committee recommends
--Remote tower.--From the increase provided for terminal airport traffic control facilities--replace,
--Facility investments.--The recommendation for Terminal Airport Traffic Control Facilities--Replace also includes an additional
Aging contract towers.--The Committee notes that there are some contract towers that are more than 40 years of age, are non-compliant with
Terminal radar approach control (TRACON) facilities-- improve.--The Committee recommendation includes
Very high frequency (VHF) omni-directional range (VOR) and tactical air navigation (TACAN).--The Committee is aware of efforts underway to address the rationalization and recapitalization of aging en route navigational aids. These systems are critical to the safety, resiliency, and on-going operations of both civilian and military air navigation. The Committee directs the
Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) for GPS.--The Committee believes that it is critical that the
WAAS GEO 7 satellite system.--The Committee recommends that development of the WAAS GEO 7 satellite system begin in fiscal year 2018 to ensure continuous sustainment of a full three- satellite WAAS navigation constellation. All current GEO host satellites reach the end of their base contracts by the end of 2017. So unless the
BILL LANGUAGE
Capital investment plan.--The bill continues to require the submission of a five-year capital investment plan.
RESEARCH, ENGINEERING, AND DEVELOPMENT
(AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................
Budget request, fiscal year 2018...................... 150,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 170,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017................... -6,500,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2017.................. +20,000,000
This appropriation provides funding for long-term research, engineering, and development programs to improve the air traffic control system and to raise the level of aviation safety, as authorized by the Airport and Airway Improvement Act and the Federal Aviation Act. The appropriation also finances the research, engineering, and development needed to establish or modify federal air regulations.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommendation includes
The Committee recommendation includes the following funding levels for research, engineering, and development programs.
(TABLE OMITTED)
Advanced material/structural integrity safety.--The Committee recommendation includes
Unmanned aircraft systems research.--The Committee provides
UAS research plan.--The Committee directs the
The Committee requests that
UAS test sites.--The Committee fully supports UAS Test Sites, which were established by
GRANTS-IN-AID FOR AIRPORTS
(LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION)
(LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS)
(AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND)
(TABLE OMITTED)
The bill includes a liquidating cash appropriation of
LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS
The bill includes a limitation on obligations of
Airport connectivity.--The Committee is concerned about the impact of connectivity between regional airlines servicing small community airports and the legacy airlines at their hub airports. The inability of these regional airlines to link seamlessly with legacy airlines at their hub airports discourages passenger growth at small airports with existing service as well as those communities seeking to initiate or expand air service. The Committee encourages the
Regulatory compliance.--The Committee is concerned about the findings of the 2013 Airport Cooperative Research Program report entitled, "Impact of Regulatory Compliance Costs on Small Airports." The Committee directs
Aircraft rescue and firefighting.--The Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) program requires certificated airports to ensure their designated personnel receive proper training, including initial and ongoing training. There are a number of training facilities across the country that provide different levels of training, including initial and recurrent annual training. The Committee is concerned about changes that have occurred in the number and location of training facilities offering ARFF training, particularly in the
Noise insulation.--The Committee is concerned that federally funded sound insulation installed to mitigate airport noise is aging. The Committee directs the
Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) threat mitigation at airports.--Reported sightings of UAS near airports remain a concern, and several options are available to mitigate the threat of errant and hostile UAS near airports. The
Airport public private partnerships.--The
Runway safety area repairs.--The Committee expects the
Draft master plans.--The Committee encourages
ADMINISTRATION AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS
Airport administrative expenses.--Within the overall obligation limitation, the bill includes
Airport cooperative research program (ACRP).--The recommendation includes
Airport technology research.--The Committee recommendation includes a minimum of
BILL LANGUAGE
Runway incursion prevention systems and devices.-- Consistent with prior year appropriations Acts, the bill allows funds under this limitation to be used for airports to procure and install runway incursion prevention systems and devices.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS--FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
Section 110. The Committee retains a provision limiting the number of technical work years at the
Section 111. The Committee retains a provision prohibiting
Section 112. The Committee continues a provision allowing reimbursement for fees collected and credited under 49 U.S.C. 45303.
Section 113. The Committee continues a provision allowing reimbursement of funds for providing technical assistance to foreign aviation authorities to be credited to the operations account.
Section 114. The Committee continues a provision prohibiting
Section 115. The Committee continues a provision prohibiting
Section 116. The Committee continues a provision that requires approval from the Deputy Assistant Secretary for
Section 117. The Committee continues a provision that requires the Secretary to block the display of an owner or operator's aircraft registration number in the Aircraft Situational Display to Industry program, upon the request of an owner or operator.
Section 118. The Committee continues a provision that limits the number of
Section 119. The Committee continues a provision that prohibits funds for any increase in fees for navigational products until
Section 119A. The Committee continues a provision that requires
Section 119B. The Committee continues a provision prohibiting funds to change weight restrictions or prior permission rules at
Section 119C. The Committee continues a provision prohibiting funds to withhold funds from certain contract tower applicants.
Section 119D. The Committee includes a provision that requires
The
LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
(HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................
Budget request, fiscal year 2018...................... 442,691,925
Recommended in the bill............................... 442,691,925
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017................... +6,896,925
Budget request, fiscal year 2018.................. - - -
The limitation on administrative expenses caps the amount, from within the limitation on obligations, that FHWA may spend on salaries and expenses necessary to conduct and administer the federal-aid highway program, highway-related research, and most other federal highway programs.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a limitation on FHWA administrative expenses of
FEDERAL-AID HIGHWAYS
(LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS)
(HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)
[In thousands of dollars]
(TABLE OMITTED)
The federal-aid highways program is designed to aid in the development, operations, and management of an intermodal transportation system that is economically efficient and environmentally sound, to provide the foundation for the nation to compete in the global economy, and to move people and goods safely.
Federal-aid highways and bridges are managed through a federal-state partnership. States and localities maintain ownership of and responsibility for the maintenance, repair and new construction of roads. State highway departments have the authority to initiate federal-aid projects, subject to FHWA approval of the plans, specifications, and cost estimates. The federal government provides financial support, on a reimbursable basis, for construction and repair through matching grants.
Programs included within the federal-aid highways program are financed from the highway trust fund. The federal-aid highways program is funded by contract authority, and liquidating cash appropriations are subsequently provided to fund outlays resulting from obligations incurred under contract authority. The Committee sets, through the annual appropriations process, an overall limitation on the total contract authority that can be obligated under the program in a given year.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a total program level of
Highway guide sign fonts.--In early 2016, FHWA notified state transportation agencies of its intention to rescind approval for the use of an alternate font on highway guide signs. The decision was made without adequate public input, and immediately impacted an estimated 26 states that had been given prior approval for alternate font use as a safe way to communicate with the traveling public. In order to provide an opportunity to fully consider the impact of this decision, the bill prohibits funds from being used to enforce actions terminating the interim approval of this alternate font during fiscal year 2018. The Committee is also aware of recent research regarding the safety and effectiveness of the alternate font, and that multiple states have submitted comments to FHWA in support of reinstating approval for the alternate font. FHWA is directed to conduct a comprehensive review of the research on this alternate font and to report back to the Committee within 90 days of enactment of this Act. The report must document the safety and cost implications of the decision to terminate approval and fully address the comments submitted by affected states during the
Transportation project delays.--The Committee notes the significant increase in transportation project development timelines from planning and design to completion of construction. Analyses from the
The administrative burden on compliance of every action that triggers the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) has held up countless federally funded projects including projects to build our nation's infrastructure. The Committee encourages the Secretary to use all existing authorities to implement Executive Order 13766 in order to accelerate infrastructure projects funded in fiscal year 2018.
Bridge corrosion control best practices.--The Committee is concerned with the large number of structurally deficient bridges in the
Bridge and structure product and technology innovations clearing house.--The Committee directs the Department to facilitate implementation of new and advanced transportation infrastructure by promoting and advancing new products and innovations related to highway bridges and structures. Unfortunately, the mainstreaming of new innovations within the surface transportation communities is a lengthy, complex, and difficult process. As part of this action, the Committee directs the Department to serve as a clearing house for new innovations by providing a specific location for bridge and structure stakeholders to find technically robust and unbiased information and reports that evaluate innovations and accelerate acceptance and implementation of new bridge and structure materials and technologies.
Culvert and storm sewer materials procurement.--The Committee directs the Secretary to evaluate the methods by which States procure culvert and storm sewer materials and the impact of those methods on project costs, including the extent to which such methods take into account environmental principles, engineering principles, and the varying needs of projects based on geographic location.
Geosynthetic reinforced soil-integrated bridge systems.-- The Committee supports continuing the geosynthetic reinforced soil-integrated bridge system program including research and deployment to capitalize on investments in the program. The Committee encourages FHWA to fund research to address development of technical specifications for segmental facing material durability, connections between geosynthetics and segmental facing materials in retaining walls, including bridge abutments, segmental unit sound barriers, and scour countermeasures in erosion control systems. The Committee encourages FHWA to complete currently planned cost studies of geosynthetic-reinforced soil abutments, consider grants to deploy innovations in geosynthetic-reinforced abutments, segmental sound barriers, and flooding scour countermeasures, to address technical specifications for segmental face durability and geosynthetics connections, and to prepare and distribute reports to state DOTs to enhance state and local application. The Committee encourages FHWA to use demonstration grants to deploy innovations in geosynthetics and segmental retaining walls.
Permeable pavements.--The Committee encourages the Secretary to accelerate research, demonstration, and deployment of permeable pavements to achieve flood mitigation, pollutant reduction, stormwater runoff reduction, and conservation. Projects may include roadway shoulder load testing and documenting lifecycle cost efficiency.
Recycled materials.--Section 1428 of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) requires the Secretary to encourage use of durable and sustainable materials. The Committee encourages FHWA to fulfill these objectives and to consider working collaboratively with the
Federally-owned bridges.--The Committee recognizes that there are a number of infrastructure projects owned solely by the federal government that are in serious need of repair. The Committee strongly encourages the Department to give the highest priority to grant applications for federal infrastructure projects which serve the greatest purpose in terms of public use. The attributes of infrastructure projects that should be given the highest priority must include, but should not be limited to, high rates of traffic, facilitation of regional traffic patterns, proximity to major metropolitan areas, facilitation of interstate commerce, accessibility to and from major metropolitan areas, and national security purpose in that they are essential evacuation routes during emergency situations. Other attributes--such as projects which link states, federal districts, national parks, or territories to other major national monuments and parks--should also be considered.
Commercial roads in the appalachian development highway system.--The Committee encourages FHWA to work with relevant state departments of transportation in
Border state infrastructure.--The
Transportation infrastructure and military installations.-- Since the passage of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 (P.L. 84-627), investments in our nation's transportation infrastructure have been directly tied to supporting national defense. Access to and from military installations continues to impact operations and local communities. The Committee strongly encourages the Secretary of Transportation to work with the Secretary of Defense to assess the transportation infrastructure that supports access to and from domestic military installations and to develop a strategy for addressing opportunities to improve base access and egress, impact on the local community, and national security.
Critical commerce corridors.--The Committee believes critical commerce corridors, an authorized use of funds in the nationally significant freight and highway projects program, can improve our economic efficiency, reduce travel times, and promote safe travel on our nation's roads and highways. These corridors include existing highways where a barrier physically separates lanes dedicated to heavy commercial trucks from lanes dedicated to passenger vehicles. The Committee encourages DOT to strongly consider applications for the creation of critical commerce corridors when awarding grants to individual states.
Freight transportation projects.--Major freight corridors improve our economic efficiency, advance exports and imports, increase the efficiency of national and international freight movement, promote economic growth on a regional and national basis, and increase employment. As an example, IH 35 in
Technology and innovation deployment program.--The Committee supports the technology and innovation deployment program's efforts to improve the safety, efficiency, reliability, and performance of our Nation's transportation infrastructure. There is a growing need to accelerate the adoption of best practices, technologies, and materials that lead to faster construction and cost-effective rehabilitation of efficient and safe bridges. The Committee encourages the Department to use these funds for the demonstration and deployment of advanced composite materials in bridge replacement and rehabilitation.
JobMod software.--The Committee directs the Secretary within 180 days of enactment of this Act to revise and update the JobMod input-output economic software model, or equivalent, to ensure that it is capable of estimating the number of jobs supported by
Noise barrier designs and materials.--The Committee recognizes that high speed traffic in municipal and suburban areas has created serious noise concerns for many residential and business communities and effective noise barrier designs are important to the health and welfare of the community. Innovative engineered products derived from natural materials with low embodied energy have been shown to be cost effective and aesthetically pleasing materials to use in the construction of noise barrier systems. Therefore the Committee directs the Secretary of Transportation to prioritize the use of innovative natural building materials and design techniques with low embodied energy in the construction of noise barrier systems in order to increase efficiency and reduce material cost.
(LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION)
(HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................
Budget request, fiscal year 2018...................... 44,973,212,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 44,973,212,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017................... +968,112,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2018.................. - - -
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a liquidating cash appropriation of
(RESCISSION)
(HIGHWAY TRUST FUND)
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017....................... -
Budget request, fiscal year 2018...................... - - -
Recommended in the bill............................... -800,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017................... +57,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2018.................. -800,000,000
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends a rescission of
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS--FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION
Section 120 distributes obligation authority among federal- aid highway programs.
Section 121 credits funds received by the
Section 122 provides requirements for any waiver of the Buy America Act.
Section 123 requires congressional notification before the Department provides credit assistance under the TIFIA program.
Section 124 requires 60-day notification to the Committees on Appropriations of any grants as authorized under 23 U.S.C. 117.
Section 125 prohibits the termination of the Clearview font as an approved alternate font on highway guide signs.
Section 126 modifies the application of a federal truck weight exemption to include the
The
FMCSA resources are used to prevent and mitigate commercial vehicle accidents through regulation, enforcement, stakeholder training, technological innovation, and improved information systems. FMCSA also is responsible for enforcing federal motor carrier safety and hazardous materials regulations for all commercial vehicles entering
Continues with Part 3 of 8
House Appropriations Committee Issues Report on DOT, HUD, Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2018
House Appropriations Committee Issues Report on DOT, HUD, Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2018 (Part 4 of 8)
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