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Dear Representative or Senator XX:

On behalf of ________Airport, I am writing to thank you for helping our airport and others weather the

significant challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic over the past year and to ask for your continued

support. We deeply appreciate the assistance that Congress provided to help airports offset enormous

revenue losses, meet operational expenses, and fund new COVID-related initiatives that are keeping

passengers and employees safe during these difficult times.

As Congress moves to consider the annual appropriations bills for fiscal year 2022 (FY22), we request your

support for the following priorities within the Department of Transportation and Department of Homeland

Security budgets. Funding for these critical items will help airports meet infrastructure and security needs,

improve safety, bolster air service, and ensure that we are ready for rising passenger levels and recovery from

the pandemic.

FY 2022 DOT/FAA Funding Bill

 Increase Funding for the Airport Improvement Program: The Airport Improvement Program (AIP)

provides federal grants to U.S. airports for projects to enhance airport safety, capacity, security, and to

address environmental concerns. According to the FAA, airports in the next five years will have more than

$8.7 billion in annual AIP-eligible projects. That is more than twice as much as airports have received in

traditional AIP funding in recent years, and the estimate does not include many other important projects

that are not AIP-eligible.

We urge Congress to provide full funding for the traditional AIP account and for supplemental

discretionary grants in FY22. Congress previously authorized approximately $1.1 billion for supplemental

AIP grants in FY22. Authorization levels for airport funding could rise as part of an upcoming infrastructure

package. H.R. 2, the infrastructure bill that the House passed last year, proposed to increase traditional

AIP funding from $3.35 billion to $4 billion annually. The measure also included an additional $3 billion to

$4 billion annually for supplemental discretionary grants. Funding at those proposed levels would help

close the enormous airport infrastructure funding gap and ensure that airports are prepared for the return

of more robust air traveler numbers.

At our airport, additional AIP funding would allow us to …

 Enhance Aviation Safety by Increasing Funding for the Contract Tower Program: The Contract Tower

Program has been extremely effective in achieving significant air traffic control savings while improving

safety, enhancing air service opportunities, and increasing economic productivity in smaller communities.

We urge the inclusion of $178 million and statutory bill language to provide dedicated funding for the FAA

Contract Tower Program in FY22. This successful program provides 257 smaller airports in 46 states with

cost-effective air traffic control services that enhance aviation safety and help connect smaller airports and

rural communities with our national air transportation system.

 Help Small Communities Retain Commercial Air Service: During the pandemic, airlines reduced or

eliminated commercial air service to communities around the county. Congress can help by increasing

funding for programs that help small communities maintain commercial air service. Specifically, we

recommend increasing funding for the Essential Air Service and Small Community Air Service

Development programs. Both help to ensure that people who live in rural and less populated areas have

access to our national aviation system.

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FY 2022 DHS/TSA/CBP Funding Bill

 Fully Fund TSA LEO Reimbursement Program: We urge Congress to fully fund TSA’s law enforcement

officer (LEO) reimbursement program in FY22. These grants partially reimburse airports for LEOs who

respond to possible threats during the checkpoint screening process because TSA screeners do not have

authority to detain or make arrests. Previous efforts to eliminate these annual reimbursements while still

requiring airports to provide TSA with law enforcement resources at checkpoints were rejected in

recognition of the fact that such an approach could weaken security by forcing airports to divert resources

from other security purposes, like patrolling public areas.

 Require TSA to Continue Staffing Exit Lanes: Despite federal law requiring TSA to permanently monitor

exit points from sterile areas where the agency was performing those duties on December 1, 2013, there

have been repeated attempts to shift these responsibilities to airports. We urge Congress to continue to

require TSA to staff exit lanes and provide the necessary resources to do so.

 Properly Staff TSA Security Checkpoints and CBP Air Ports-of-Entry: We urge Congress to provide TSA and

CBP with the resources they need for more officers, canine teams, and new technologies to screen

travelers and their baggage effectively and efficiently.

Gaining funding for these important priorities in the FY22 DOT/FAA and DHS/TSA/CBP funding bills is critical to

our airport and others across the country that are working diligently to meet both infrastructure and security

needs while attempting to recover from the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you for

your consideration and support.

Sincerely,