Airport Regulatory Relief Act of 2025

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Bill ID: 119/hr/6427
Last Updated: April 2, 2026

Sponsored by

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

ID: B001323

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 25, 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

Federal Budget & Appropriations Government Operations & Accountability National Security & Intelligence Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement State & Local Government Affairs Congressional Rules & Procedures Transportation & Infrastructure Small Business & Entrepreneurship Civil Rights & Liberties
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💰 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

10

1
CHUGACH ALASKA CORPORATION PAC (CAC PAC)
PAC ANCHORAGE, AK
$5,000
Feb 8, 2024
2
JSTREETPAC
CONDUIT TOTAL LISTED IN AGG. FIELD
PAC WASHINGTON, DC
$2,500
Oct 21, 2024
3
JSTREETPAC
CONDUIT TOTAL LISTED IN AGG. FIELD
PAC WASHINGTON, DC
$2,500
Oct 21, 2024
4
AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS
Organization PALM SPRINGS, CA
$3,300
Jan 16, 2024
5
TUNICA-BILOXI TRIBE OF LOUISIANA
Organization MANSURA, LA
$2,500
Mar 29, 2024
6
CHICKASAW NATION
Organization ADA, OK
$1,000
Nov 6, 2023
7
CHEROKEE NATION
Organization TAHLEQUAH, OK
$1,000
Jun 17, 2024
8
POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS
Organization ATMORE, AL
$1,000
Jun 30, 2024
9
CHICKASAW NATION
Organization ADA, OK
$1,000
Sep 28, 2023
10
POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS
Organization ATMORE, AL
$1,000
Sep 30, 2023

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

ID: T000490

Top Contributors

10

1
PREWETT SERVICES LLC
Organization SOUTHAVEN, MS
$5,000
Jun 14, 2023
2
PREWETT SERVICES LLC
Organization SOUTHAVEN, MS
$1,700
Jun 14, 2023
3
THE WETZEL FAMILY TRUST
Organization LAS VEGAS, NV
$250
Jun 28, 2024
4
POLITICAL EDUCATION PATTERNS LOCAL 18 OF THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS
Organization CLEVELAND, OH
$5,000
Aug 9, 2024
5
ELITE MOVING & TRANSPORT LLC
Organization BATAVIA, OH
$700
Mar 1, 2024
6
LUKE, DON MR
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual PHOENIX, AZ
$11,600
Mar 13, 2023
7
RADGOWSKI, STEVEN
Individual NORTHPORT, NY
$7,300
Dec 31, 2023
8
HAHN, SAMUEL
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, IL
$6,600
Aug 30, 2024
9
ELLIOTT, BEVERLY B MS
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual MOUNT JULIET, TN
$6,600
Mar 16, 2023
10
MCMANUS, DEBORAH
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual LIVERMORE, CA
$6,600
Mar 18, 2023

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

ID: T000487

Top Contributors

10

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

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Showing 26 nodes and 29 connections

Total contributions: $95,985

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

Showing top 16 donors by contribution amount

16 Individuals