Airport Regulatory Relief Act of 2025

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Bill ID: 119/hr/6427
Last Updated: September 7, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large]

ID: B001323

Follow the money

The bill

Airport Regulatory Relief Act of 2025

HR. 6427, 119th Congress — read as touching Airlines.

The sponsor

Rep. Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large]

Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.

The money

$71,235 raised

20 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.

The alignment

85% match to Project 2025

This bill's text tracks the "Department of Transportation" section, p. 661-663 of the Mandate for Leadership.

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

March 24, 2026

Introduced

Committee Review

Floor Action

Passed House

Senate Review

📍 Current Status

Next: Both chambers must agree on the same version of the bill.

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the geniuses in Congress. The Airport Regulatory Relief Act of 2025 - because what's more relieving than deregulating airport safety standards? (Sarcasm alert: yes, I'm being facetious.)

Let's dissect this monstrosity. The bill amends title 49 of the United States Code to allow states to use their own highway standards for airfield pavement construction and improvement at nonprimary airports serving aircraft under 60,000 pounds gross weight. Because, you know, what could possibly go wrong with applying highway specs to airport runways? It's not like planes are, say, heavier or faster than cars.

The "relief" part of the bill is a joke. This is a classic case of regulatory capture, where industry lobbyists have convinced our esteemed lawmakers to water down safety standards to save a buck. The affected industries - construction, aviation, and transportation - will no doubt be thrilled to cut corners and increase profits at the expense of public safety.

Compliance requirements? Ha! The bill gives states six months to notify the Secretary, who then has another six months to determine whether the state's specs won't "negatively affect safety." And if that's not enough time, they can extend it by another six months. Because what's a little delay when it comes to potentially compromising air travel safety?

Enforcement mechanisms? Don't make me laugh. The Secretary can authorize additional extensions, and states can just keep on using their own specs until someone gets around to checking. Penalties? What penalties? This bill is designed to avoid accountability, not ensure it.

The economic impact will be a windfall for construction companies and airlines, who'll save money by skimping on safety. The operational impact will be a increased risk of accidents, because that's what happens when you compromise on safety standards.

In conclusion, this bill is a symptom of a deeper disease: the corrupting influence of money in politics. It's a classic case of politicians putting industry interests ahead of public safety, and voters too stupid or apathetic to notice. So, go ahead and pat yourselves on the back, Congress. You've managed to create another regulatory nightmare that will eventually blow up in our faces. Bravo.

Related Topics

Transportation & Infrastructure
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$71,235
16 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$0
Committees
$0
Individuals
$71,235

No PAC contributions found

No organization contributions found

No committee contributions found

1
ODOM, WILLIAM L
2 transactions
$10,000
2
GERONDALE, CHRISTOPHER
2 transactions
$6,600
3
SCHWARZMAN, CHRISTINE
2 transactions
$6,600
4
SCHWARZMAN, STEPHEN
2 transactions
$6,600
5
LOKEN, TYLER
1 transaction
$5,000
6
FOX, RICHARD
1 transaction
$3,435
7
MCNAMARA, MICHAEL
1 transaction
$3,300
8
FORSYTHE, GERALD R
1 transaction
$3,300
9
HILLMAN, TATNALL LEA
1 transaction
$3,300
10
HUFFMAN, JEREMY
1 transaction
$3,300
11
LETTS, JIM
1 transaction
$3,300
12
SPOKELY, KATHERINE
1 transaction
$3,300
13
TAYLOR, MARGARETTA J
1 transaction
$3,300
14
ANTONSEN, HANS
1 transaction
$3,300
15
ANTONSEN, LAURA
1 transaction
$3,300
16
BABCOCK, KRISTIE
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 3 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]

ID: C001055

Top Contributors

29

1
CHUGACH ALASKA CORPORATION PAC (CAC PAC)
PACANCHORAGE, AK
$5,000
Feb 8, 2024
2
AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS
OrganizationPALM SPRINGS, CA
$3,300
Jan 16, 2024
3
TUNICA-BILOXI TRIBE OF LOUISIANA
OrganizationMANSURA, LA
$2,500
Mar 29, 2024
4
CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$1,000
Nov 6, 2023
5
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$1,000
Jun 17, 2024
6
POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS
OrganizationATMORE, AL
$1,000
Jun 30, 2024
7
CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$1,000
Sep 28, 2023
8
POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS
OrganizationATMORE, AL
$1,000
Sep 30, 2023
9
SAMISH TYEE
OrganizationANACORTES, WA
$1,000
Aug 22, 2023
10
LOUI, STEVEN
PACIFIC MARINE AND SUPPLY COMP • CHAIRMAN
IndividualHONOLULU, HI
$5,000
Mar 22, 2024

Rep. Taylor, David J. [R-OH-2]

ID: T000490

Top Contributors

22

1
POLITICAL EDUCATION PATTERNS LOCAL 18 OF THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS
OrganizationCLEVELAND, OH
$5,000
Aug 9, 2024
2
ELITE MOVING & TRANSPORT LLC
OrganizationBATAVIA, OH
$700
Mar 1, 2024
3
WOESTE, BILL
BEECHMONT AUTOMOTIVE GROUP • AUTO DEALER
IndividualCINCINNATI, OH
$3,435
Jul 23, 2024
4
SIMS, MICHAEL
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualCINCINNATI, OH
$3,435
Oct 9, 2024
5
ATIKIAN, SETRAK
SELF • INSURANCE
IndividualGALENA, OH
$3,300
Oct 18, 2024
6
MELKUMIAN, VIOLETTA
SELF • SELF EMPLOYED
IndividualWESTERVILLE, OH
$3,300
Oct 18, 2024
7
SAFARYAN, ERNA
SELF • DENTIST
IndividualGALENA, OH
$3,300
Oct 18, 2024
8
SAFARYAN, SERGEY
SELF • AUTO DEALER
IndividualGALENA, OH
$3,300
Oct 18, 2024
9
SAFARYAN, TIGRAN
SELF • AUTO DEALER
IndividualCOLUMBUS, OH
$3,300
Oct 18, 2024
10
HOUSER, JOHN
IndividualBATAVIA, OH
$3,300
Dec 13, 2023

Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]

ID: T000487

Top Contributors

30

1
AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS
OrganizationPALM SPRINGS, CA
$3,300
Jun 30, 2023
2
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$2,500
Jun 21, 2023
3
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$2,000
Mar 27, 2024
4
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,650
Jun 27, 2023
5
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,650
May 9, 2024
6
POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS
OrganizationATMORE, AL
$1,000
Jun 27, 2024
7
MS BAND OF CHOCTAW INDIANS
OrganizationCHOCTAW, MS
$1,000
Aug 28, 2024
8
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$500
Sep 18, 2023
9
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$300
Mar 27, 2024
10
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$200
Mar 27, 2024

Donor Network - Rep. Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

Loading...

Showing 29 nodes and 38 connections

Total contributions: $38

Top Donors - Rep. Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large]

Showing top 16 donors by contribution amount

16 Individuals

Industry Impact

Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 1 helped.

  • +Airlinesconfidence 0.90

    Section 2 amends 49 U.S.C. § 47114(d)(4) to allow use of state highway standards for airfield pavement construction at nonprimary airports serving aircraft ≤60,000 lbs, reducing regulatory burden and costs for airport operators, which benefits airlines using those airports.

Who funds the sponsor on these industries

For each industry this bill affects, here's what the sponsor (Rep. Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large])received from donors associated with that industry during the 2022–present cycles. Donations are not proof of intent — they are a record of who funds the people writing the law.

Industries this bill HELPS

  • Airlines$2,800
    from 7 contributions
    • GRIFFIN, BOB$1,500
    • BIRKY, GENE$600
    • STAFF, KRISTA$600
    • STAFF, KRISTA NOEL$100

Project 2025 Policy Matches

This bill shows semantic similarity to the following sections of the Project 2025 policy document.AI-enhanced analysis provides detailed alignment ratings.

Department of Transportation

Strong
Vector: 62%
Pages: 661-663AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The bill aligns with Project 2025's goals of reducing federal regulatory burden, granting states greater flexibility in infrastructure decisions, and promoting cost-effective, safe aviation—particularly for smaller aircraft at nonprimary airports—by allowing state highway standards to be used for airfield pavement."

Key themes:state flexibilityreduced federal involvementcost savings/infrastructure efficiencyaviation affordability and safetyuse of highway standards

— 629 — Department of Transportation l Revoke the special waiver granted to California by the Biden Administration. California has no valid basis under the Clean Air Act to claim an extraordinary or unique air quality impact from carbon dioxide emissions, and EPCA is clear that under no circumstances may a state agency regulate fuel economy in place of DOT. The federal government should therefore exercise its preemptive authority over CARB and take all steps necessary to invalidate any inconsistent fuel economy requirements imposed by CARB, including its ban on sales of internal combustion engines. FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has jurisdiction over the inter- state highway system, which is vital for the transportation of goods and people throughout the country. The FHWA, in conjunction with state DOTs, works to ensure the quality and safety of highways and bridges. However, over the course of decades, presidential Administrations and Con- gress have caused the FHWA to go beyond its original mission. The variety of infrastructure projects now eligible for funding through the FHWA include fer- ryboat terminals, hiking trails, bicycle lanes, and local sidewalks. In many cases, such projects should be the sole responsibility of local or state governments, not dependent on FHWA funding. For local projects, federal involvement adds red tape and bureaucratic delays rather than value. The Biden Administration has broadened the FHWA’s scope by emphasizing the priorities of progressive activists instead of pursuing practical goals. These policies include a focus on “equity,” a nebulous concept that in practice means awarding grants to favored identity groups, as well as imposing obligations on states concern- ing carbon dioxide emissions from highway traffic—areas not encompassed within FHWA’s statutory authorities. Furthermore, the Biden Administration’s embrace of the “Vision Zero” approach to safety often means actively seeking congestion for automobiles to reduce speeds. Finally, the Administration has sought to use a “guidance memo” to impose policies not enacted by Congress, most notably to make it harder for growing states to expand highway capacity. Instead, the next Administration should: l Seek to refocus the FHWA on maintaining and improving the highway system. l Remove or reform rules and regulations that hamper state governments. l Reduce the amount of federal involvement in local infrastructure decisions. — 630 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise AVIATION Americans value the ability to travel safely and inexpensively by air. In the United States, the private sector has developed the world’s safest, most effective passenger and cargo air transport networks. Current policies threaten to undo that legacy and to strangle the development of new technologies such as drones and “advanced air mobility,” including small aircraft to serve as air taxis or to conduct quiet vertical flights. Starting in the 1970s, deregulation and increased competition turned air travel from a luxury to an affordable travel option enjoyed by most Americans. The United States has four major airlines, each with roughly 20 percent of the domestic market. They compete with each other over the vast majority of routes. Several smaller carriers provide additional competition and other options for travelers. The current Administration’s policies are self-contradictory. In order to pla- cate specific labor groups, the Biden Administration not only opposes the growth of the major airlines, which would reduce the price of air travel, but also opposes measures—such as low-fare foreign competition and joint ventures of smaller U.S. carriers—that would increase competition. Another problematic area is aviation consumer protection. Congress has autho- rized DOT to prohibit specific “unfair and deceptive practices” in the airline industry after undertaking a hearing process—authority exercised by the Office of Aviation Consumer Protection within the General Counsel’s Office. Beginning with the Obama Administration, this authority has been used to justify broad new regulations—in the name of achieving “fair” competition—that would impose burdensome disclosure mandates and other costly requirements without a sufficient process for gathering supporting evidence. The Trump Administration reformed the process for issuing such “unfair and deceptive practices” rules,9 but the Biden Administration promptly reversed those reforms.10 A new Administration should restore them. In general, the next Administration should focus its efforts on making air travel more affordable and abundant, increasing safety, increasing competition to benefit the flying public, and removing obstacles to the rapid deployment of emerging aviation technologies that hold the promise of improved safety, compe- tition, opportunity, and growth. To achieve a more level playing field and increase options for the traveling public, the next Administration should: l Publicly indicate that a new Administration would support joint- venture efforts by smaller carriers (for example, Jet Blue and Spirit) to achieve scale necessary to reduce costs and compete more effectively with the larger carriers. l Review foreign ownership and control limitations and, if necessary, work with Congress to change existing statutes. Worldwide investors

Environmental Protection Agency

Moderate
Vector: 61%
Pages: 458-460AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"Both the bill and the EPA Project 2025 policy seek to reduce federal regulatory burdens and increase state flexibility in infrastructure projects, though the bill addresses airport pavement standards while the EPA policy focuses on highway projects and air quality compliance."

Key themes:regulatory reliefstate flexibilitystreamlining processesreduced federal oversightcost efficiency

— 425 — Environmental Protection Agency are statutorily required, and remove any regulatory differences between attainment and maintenance that are not explicitly required by law. l Streamline the process for state and local governments to demonstrate that their federally funded highway projects will not interfere with NAAQS attainment. l Adopt policies to prevent abuse of EPA’s CAA “error correction” authority.20 EPA historically has used this to coerce states into adopting its favored policies on pain of imposition of a Federal Implementation Plan (FIP). l Limit EPA’s reliance on CAA § 30121 general rulemaking authority to ensure that it is not abused to issue regulations for which EPA lacks substantive authority elsewhere in the statute. l If possible, return the standard-setting role to Congress. Climate Change l Remove the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) for any source category that is not currently being regulated. The overall reporting program imposes significant burdens on small businesses and companies that are not being regulated. This is either a pointless burden or a sword-of- Damocles threat of future regulation, neither of which is appropriate. l Establish a system, with an appropriate deadline, to update the 2009 endangerment finding. l Establish a significant emissions rate (SER) for greenhouse gasses (GHGs). Regulating Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) Under the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act22 l Repeal Biden Administration implementing regulations for the AIM Act that are unnecessarily stringent and costly. l Refrain from granting petitions from opportunistic manufacturers to add new restrictions that further skew the market toward costlier refrigerants and equipment.

Department of Transportation

Moderate
Vector: 59%
Pages: 661-663AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"Both the bill and the Project 2025 DOT section advocate for greater state flexibility and reduced federal oversight in infrastructure standards, promoting the use of state-specific specifications to lower costs and increase efficiency."

Key themes:state flexibilityreduced federal regulationuse of state standardsinfrastructure cost savingslocal control

— 628 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise translate into a loss of auto industry jobs for American workers: It will also mean a significant increase in traffic deaths and injuries. As fewer new cars are purchased, the price of used cars will rise, and more Americans will be left driving older cars, which traffic statistics show are much less safe than newer vehicles. NHTSA itself has acknowledged that the Biden Administration’s fuel economy standards will generate hundreds of additional fatalities and thousands of additional injuries on U.S. highways. Because older cars also produce more harmful air pollution, the aging of America’s fleet will also have negative consequences for air quality. In addition, the Biden Administration’s efforts to accelerate EV sales by reg- ulatory fiat work against the national security interests of the United States in contravention of Congress’s goals under EPCA. Increasing the production of EVs will make the U.S. more dependent on China and other foreign countries that control the supply and processing of rare earth minerals that are needed for EV batteries. And the faster deployment of EVs will put a major strain on America’s vulnerable power grid, requiring large investments in critical infrastructure and a big boost in the nation’s electricity production, including from gas-fired and oil- fired power plants. In exchange for all of these harmful effects—on traffic safety, consumer choice, American jobs, the nation’s air quality, and U.S. national security—the Biden fuel economy regulations are predicted to have no meaningful effect on global tem- perature trends over the long term.8 The next Administration must return the federal fuel economy program to the limits established by Congress. The standards issued by NHTSA must be reset at reasonable levels that are technologically feasible for ICE automobiles and con- sistent with an increase in domestic auto production and healthy growth in the sale of safer and more affordable new vehicles. To achieve these goals, the next Administration should: l Reduce proposed fuel economy levels. The Administration should consider returning to the minimum average fuel economy levels specified by Congress for model year 2020 vehicles: levels aimed at achieving a fleet-wide average of 35 miles per gallon. Consideration should be given to maintaining the standards at those levels for the near term in order to promote the objectives laid out by Congress. l Ensure that DOT again exercises priority in the setting of fuel economy standards. Any EPA limits on carbon dioxide emissions, even if authorized under the Clean Air Act, must support and work in harmony with DOT standards and must not override them or usurp DOT’s regulatory role under EPCA. For example, EPA could regulate air conditioning systems and leave engine standards to DOT. — 629 — Department of Transportation l Revoke the special waiver granted to California by the Biden Administration. California has no valid basis under the Clean Air Act to claim an extraordinary or unique air quality impact from carbon dioxide emissions, and EPCA is clear that under no circumstances may a state agency regulate fuel economy in place of DOT. The federal government should therefore exercise its preemptive authority over CARB and take all steps necessary to invalidate any inconsistent fuel economy requirements imposed by CARB, including its ban on sales of internal combustion engines. FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has jurisdiction over the inter- state highway system, which is vital for the transportation of goods and people throughout the country. The FHWA, in conjunction with state DOTs, works to ensure the quality and safety of highways and bridges. However, over the course of decades, presidential Administrations and Con- gress have caused the FHWA to go beyond its original mission. The variety of infrastructure projects now eligible for funding through the FHWA include fer- ryboat terminals, hiking trails, bicycle lanes, and local sidewalks. In many cases, such projects should be the sole responsibility of local or state governments, not dependent on FHWA funding. For local projects, federal involvement adds red tape and bureaucratic delays rather than value. The Biden Administration has broadened the FHWA’s scope by emphasizing the priorities of progressive activists instead of pursuing practical goals. These policies include a focus on “equity,” a nebulous concept that in practice means awarding grants to favored identity groups, as well as imposing obligations on states concern- ing carbon dioxide emissions from highway traffic—areas not encompassed within FHWA’s statutory authorities. Furthermore, the Biden Administration’s embrace of the “Vision Zero” approach to safety often means actively seeking congestion for automobiles to reduce speeds. Finally, the Administration has sought to use a “guidance memo” to impose policies not enacted by Congress, most notably to make it harder for growing states to expand highway capacity. Instead, the next Administration should: l Seek to refocus the FHWA on maintaining and improving the highway system. l Remove or reform rules and regulations that hamper state governments. l Reduce the amount of federal involvement in local infrastructure decisions.

Showing 3 of 5 policy matches

About These Correlations

Policy matches are calculated using a hybrid approach: initial candidates are found using semantic similarity between bill summaries and Project 2025 policy text, then an AI model (Llama 3.1 70B) provides detailed alignment ratings and analysis. Ratings range from 1 (minimal alignment) to 5 (very strong alignment). This analysis does not imply direct causation or intent.

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