HR6168-119

What This Bill Does

The Airport TIFIA Financing Certainty Act amends the title 23 TIFIA infrastructure finance program. It revises the eligible project category for aviation-related facilities so a project that constructs new or improves existing aviation-related facilities, including equipment, qualifies regardless of revenue-producing purposes or public accessibility when it facilitates, preserves, enhances, or expands air transportation; access to air transportation such as surface transportation, rental car, and parking facilities; the movement of passengers, baggage, or cargo; or the safety or security of airport users. The bill also amends TIFIA application and assistance provisions so special rules apply to projects in this aviation category, removes certain waiver conditions for those projects, and changes a small-project threshold from eligible project costs reasonably anticipated not to equal or exceed $75 million to a TIFIA loan amount reasonably anticipated not to exceed $100 million.

Who Benefits and How

Airport operators and sponsors benefit from clearer eligibility for TIFIA credit assistance for aviation facilities and equipment. Air travelers benefit if projects improve air transportation, access, passenger movement, baggage handling, cargo movement, safety, or security. Airport surface transportation, rental car, and parking projects benefit from express inclusion as access-to-air-transportation facilities. Cargo and logistics users benefit if airport projects improve cargo movement.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Transportation Department TIFIA administrators must apply the revised aviation eligibility, waiver, and small-project threshold rules. Airport sponsors seeking TIFIA financing must document how projects facilitate covered aviation functions. Federal credit program risk managers must evaluate airport projects under the changed loan-amount threshold. Competing TIFIA applicants may face more eligible airport projects in the credit pipeline.

Key Provisions

• Expands TIFIA eligibility for aviation-related facilities and equipment.
• Adds airport access, passenger movement, baggage movement, cargo movement, safety, and security projects to the covered aviation category.
• Modifies eligibility so covered aviation projects qualify regardless of revenue-producing purpose or public accessibility.
• Removes specified waiver conditions for covered aviation projects.
• Changes the small-project test to a TIFIA loan amount not expected to exceed $100 million.