House Approves Calvert Bill to Facilitate Ontario Airport Transfer

Today, the House of Representatives approved, by voice vote, Congressman Ken Calvert's (CA-42) legislation, H.R. 4369, that will facilitate the transfer of Ontario International Airport from the city of Los Angeles to the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA).

"Today is a great day for the Inland Empire and the future of air travel for our region," said Rep. Calvert. "Restoring local control of Ontario Airport and improving air travel options for Inland Empire residents and businesses is one of my highest priorities. I look forward to the bill being passed by the Senate in the very near future."

The agreement to transfer Ontario Airport is structured in such a way that $120 million in Passenger Facilities Charges (PFC) is required to be transferred from ONT to Los Angeles Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) over ten years. Specifically, $50 million in ONT PFCs must be reimbursed to LAWA in five years and an additional $70 million in ONT PFCs must be paid back to LAWA/LAX in ten years. This transaction represents a reimbursement of LAX PFCs that were transferred to ONT in the 1990s to help pay for the construction of a new terminal. Under current law PFCs are only permitted to be applied to the airport or airport systems at which they are collected. Since LAX and ONT will no longer be connected this legislation is necessary. The legislation does not authorize or appropriate any new federal spending.

The following members have cosponsored the legislation: Norma Torres (CA-35), Paul Cook (CA-8), Grace Napolitano (CA-32), Raul Ruiz (CA-36), Pete Aguilar (CA-31) and Mark Takano (CA-41).

Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by California Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer.

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