Johnson secures a win for South Dakota airports

Last week, Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) led efforts to successfully turn back a plan to charge the Pierre, Aberdeen, and Watertown communities more than four million dollars over the next 10 years to maintain passenger air service, the Congressman said in a press release.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee sent bipartisan legislation to the House floor making significant reforms to the nation’s aviation system. Originally, language in that bill, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act (SGRLAA), would have charged rural passenger airports new fees to participate in the essential air service program.

Johnson amended the bill to protect the most remote passenger airports, including those in Pierre, Aberdeen and Watertown, from those new expenses. His amendment was adopted into the final package by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and will move to the House floor.

“South Dakotans and rural Americans deserve reasonable access to airport travel,” Johnson said. “The original draft of the committee’s bill would force towns like Pierre, Aberdeen and Watertown to cut city programs or raise taxes or fees to support essential air services. I’m glad the committee adopted my amendment to protect our rural airports while also making fiscally responsible changes to the program as a whole.”

The SGRLAA Act is the five-year reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration. It reauthorizes the programs in the FAA to improve efficiency and operations, strengthen American’s general aviation sector and workforce, invest in United States airport infrastructure, enhance the passenger experience, and authorize the National Transportation Safety Board.

Essential Air Service (EAS) airports — like those in Pierre, Aberdeen and Watertown — receive federal funding to ensure air service to rural and small communities. Language in the original text of the SGRLAA Act would have placed a burden of five percent funding on local and state governments that have EAS airports which risks air service in those communities.

Johnson’s amendment specifically targeted the most rural EAS airports that are more than 175 driving miles — nearly a three-hour drive — from the nearest medium- or large-hub airport. The amendment exempted those airports from the five percent cost-share outlined in the legislation. With Johnson’s amendment, the EAS airports in South Dakota will maintain a connection to the national aviation network.