PUBLIC LAW 104-264—OCT. 9, 1996 110 STAT. 3249 "482. ADVANCE APPROPRIATIONS FOR AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FACDLITIES 48201.". SEC. 278. RURAL AIR SERVICE SURVIVAL ACT. (a) SHORT TITLE.— This section may be cited as the **Rural Air Service Survival Act". (b) FINDINGS.— Congress finds that— (1) air service in rural areas is essential to a national and international transportation network; (2) the rural air service infrastructure supports the safe operation of all air travel; (3) rural air service creates economic benefits for all air carriers by making the national aviation system available to passengers from rural areas; (4) rural air service has suffered since deregulation; (5) the essential air service program under the Department of Transportation— (A) provides essential airline access to rural and isolated rural communities throughout the Nation; (B) is necessary for the economic growth and development of rural communities; (C) is a critical component of the national and international transportation system of the United States; and (D) has endured serious funding cuts in recent years; and (6) a reliable source of funding must be established to maintain air service in rural areas and the essential air service program. (c) ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE AUTHORIZATION. —Section 41742 is amended to read as follows:
- § 41742. Essential air service authorization
"(a) IN GENERAL.— Out of the amounts received by the Federal Aviation Administration credited to the account established under section 45303 of this title or otherwise provided to the Administration, the sum of $50,000,000 is authorized and shall be made available immediately for obligation and expenditure to carry out the essential air service program under this subchapter for each fiscal year. "(b) FUNDING FOR SMALL COMMUNITY AIR SERVICE, —Notwithstanding any other provision of law, moneys credited to the account established under section 45303(a) of this title, including the funds derived from fees imposed under the authority contained in section 45301(a) of this title, shall be used to carry out the essential air service program under this subchapter. Notwithstanding section 47114(g) of this title, any amounts from those fees that are not obligated or expended at the end of the fiscal year for the purpose of funding the essential air service program under this subchapter shall be made available to the Administration for use in improving rural air safety under subchapter I of chapter 471 of this title and shall be used exclusively for projects at rural airports under this subchapter. "(c) SPECIAL RULE FOR FISCAL YEAR 1997. — Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), in fiscal year 1997, amounts in excess of $75,000,000 that are collected in fees pursuant to section 45301(a)(1) of this title shall be available for the essential air service program under this subchapter, in addition to amounts specifically provided for in appropriations Acts.". 49 USC 40101 note. 49 USC 41742 note.
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