U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan's legislation to reduce unnecessary cost burdens on state and local governments and their airports from the federal government passed in the U.S. Senate Thursday and was headed to the president's desk for final approval.
Currently, state and local governments are being forced to pay an inordinate amount of money to the Federal Aviation Administration to complete airport improvement and expansion projects projects that could be done at a lower cost by the Minnesota Department of Transportation, a news release from Nolan's office said.
During House consideration in September, Nolan pointed to local Minnesota examples of this cost burden in Brainerd and Rochester, where projects that could be completed at a lower cost by MnDOT were instead directed to the FAA at a significantly higher price.
"This bill simply requires that projects be done in a cost-effective and common sense manner, complying with FAA safety requirements, promoting public safety and enhancing our overall aviation system," Nolan said.
Nolan's legislation authorizes the FAA to enter into what are called "Reimbursable Agreements" with states to expand and improve local airports. It also requires that these agreements be made in a collaborative and cost-effective manner that saves money reduces unnecessary government bureaucracy whenever possible-while continuing to promote the safety, integrity, and efficiency of national airspace, the release said.
