A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is called the Modern Skies Act and it provides extra funding to the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Transportation. It sets up a pilot program to give grants for updating and modernizing old airport terminals at certain medium hub airports. The legislation also provides billions of dollars to improve air traffic control facilities, systems, and cloud computing infrastructure. Furthermore, it allocates funds for general airport improvement projects and addressing aging airport terminal infrastructure nationwide. The bill requires officials to provide briefings and reports to specific committees in Congress regarding the status and spending of these programs.
Yes· 3 of 11
- Scored +4
Does this improve buses, trains and other public transport?
The legislation provides extensive funding for modernizing airport terminals and improving air traffic control facilities.
- Scored +3
Is this likely to create jobs?
The bill provides billions in funding for airport and air traffic control infrastructure projects, which will create jobs in construction and aviation.
- Scored +2
Does this invest in rural communities?
Discretionary grants and infrastructure funding extend to smaller and regional airports, supporting transportation in less populated areas.
The opposite
- Scored -5
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill authorizes substantial new federal spending and supplemental appropriations for aviation and infrastructure programs.
- Scored -4
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?
The legislation appropriates billions of dollars in unappropriated funds directly from the Treasury, increasing federal spending and the national debt.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Modernizing Airport Terminals: Under Section 3, the Secretary of Transportation will issue grants to upgrade aging flagship terminals at up to three transitional hub airports, which can improve passenger circulation, terminal capacity, and baggage systems for travelers.
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Better Air Traffic Control: Under Section 4, the Administrator receives billions of dollars to implement a common automation platform, a common controller workstation, cloud computing infrastructure, and strategic air traffic flow management technologies, which supports the national airspace system.
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Upgrading Air Traffic Control Facilities: Under Section 6, the Administrator receives $2,000,000,000 to construct, replace, and improve terminal air traffic control facilities, including activities using digital tower technologies.
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Discretionary Grants for Airports: Under Section 6, the Administrator receives $3,000,000,000 for discretionary grants for airport projects and $5,000,000,000 for airport terminal development projects to address aging infrastructure.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Taxpayer Burden from Large Appropriations: Under Section 3, Section 4, and Section 6, billions of unappropriated dollars are drawn directly from the Treasury to fund these programs, which ultimately impacts taxpayers who fund the federal government.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve buses, trains and other public transport? — The legislation provides extensive funding for modernizing airport terminals and improving air traffic control facilities. Does this invest in rural communities? — Discretionary grants and infrastructure funding extend to smaller and regional airports, supporting transportation in less populated areas.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in cities be better off under this? — Upgrades to major commercial and transitional hub airports improve travel experiences for urban populations. Would farmers be better off under this? — Improvements to regional and nonhub airports can enhance transportation access for rural and agricultural communities. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Grants for smaller airports help maintain connectivity and infrastructure in rural regions.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The legislation mandates regular briefings and quarterly reporting to appropriate congressional committees regarding expenditures and program status. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill directs federal agencies to distribute substantial discretionary grants and manage large-scale national aviation programs.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill provides billions in funding for airport and air traffic control infrastructure projects, which will create jobs in construction and aviation. Is this likely to grow the economy? — Investments in modernizing airports and air traffic control systems provide a positive economic stimulus to the aviation and travel sectors. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Airport terminal upgrades and infrastructure grants can indirectly benefit local businesses and contractors involved in airport services. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill authorizes substantial new federal spending and supplemental appropriations for aviation and infrastructure programs. Does this reduce what the federal government owes? — The legislation appropriates billions of dollars in unappropriated funds directly from the Treasury, increasing federal spending and the national debt.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this better protect the country from computer attacks? — The bill funds cloud computing infrastructure and modern automation platforms for air traffic control, which incorporate advanced technical systems.
- 10/1/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.