(a) In general

Chapter 417 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

IV Regional Airport Expansion Program

41781. Grants for growing regional airports

(a) In general

The Secretary of Transportation shall establish a program to provide grants to eligible airports to improve passenger and flight capacity.

(b) Eligible uses

An eligible airport may use a grant provided under this section for—

(1)

activities that improve passenger and flight capacity at such airport, including—

(A)

the expansion of passenger and property screening facilities;

(B)

runway lengthening;

(C)

construction of hangars and associated infrastructure; and

(D)

improving passenger facilities; and

(2)

costs incurred to comply with operational and security requirements under part 139 or part 154 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, or part 1542 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.

(c) Grant requirements

In carrying out the program established under this section, the Secretary shall provide not less than 3 and not more than 10 grants to eligible airports in each fiscal year.

(d) Eligible airport defined

In this section, the term eligible airport means an airport that—

(1)

is a general aviation airport or a nonprimary commercial service airport (as determined by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration); and

(2)

serves a community with a population of at least 75,000.

41782. Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal year $50,000,000 to carry out section 41781.

(b) Technical amendment

The analysis for chapter 417 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 41767 the following: