House Passes FAA Reauthorization Act Including Rep. Calvert’s Ontario Airport Bill

Today, the House of Representatives passed via voice vote the FAA Reauthorization Act, which included legislation (H.R. 4369) introduced by Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) that will facilitate the transfer of Ontario International Airport from the city of Los Angeles to the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA).

"With the passage of this bill today, we are one step closer to restoring local control of Ontario Airport," said Rep. Calvert. "I'm looking forward to the Senate approving the bill and having it signed into law by the end of the week. The Inland Empire is ready, willing and more than able to shape its own aviation 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 incur any cost to taxpayers.

The following members have cosponsored H.R. 4369: 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 to H.R. 4369 was introduced in the Senate by California Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer.

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