S. 853 — Considered and Passed (Senate)

II 113th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 853 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 25, 2013 Ms. Collins (for herself, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Thune, Mr. Udall of Colorado, Mr. Risch, Mrs. Hagan, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Toomey, Mrs. McCaskill, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Warner, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Begich, and Mr. Heller) introduced the following bill; which was read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed A BILL To provide the Secretary of Transportation with the flexibility to transfer certain funds to prevent reduced operations and staffing of the Federal Aviation Administration, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Reducing Flight Delays Act of 2013. 2. Authorization to transfer certain funds to prevent reduced operations and staffing of the Federal Aviation Administration (a) In general Notwithstanding division G of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 (Public Law 113–6), any other provision of law, or a sequestration order issued or to be issued by the President pursuant to section 251A(7)(A) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 901a(7)(A)), the Secretary of Transportation may transfer during fiscal year 2013 an amount equal to the amount specified in subsection (c) to the appropriations account providing for the operations of the Federal Aviation Administration, for any activity or activities funded by that account, from— (1) the amount made available for obligation in that fiscal year as discretionary grants-in-aid for airports pursuant to section 47117(f) of title 49, United States Code; or (2) any other program or account of the Federal Aviation Administration. (b) Availability and obligation of transferred amounts An amount transferred under subsection (a)(1) shall— (1) be available immediately for obligation and expenditure as directly appropriated budget authority; and (2) be deemed as obligated for grants-in-aid for airports under part B of subtitle VII of title 49, United States Code, for purposes of complying with the limitation on incurring obligations during that fiscal year under the heading Grants-in-Aid for Airports under title I of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012 (division C of Public Law 112–55; 125 Stat. 647), and made applicable to fiscal year 2013 by division F of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 (Public Law 113–6). (c) Amount specified The amount specified in this subsection is the amount, not to exceed $253,000,000, that the Secretary of Transportation determines to be necessary to prevent reduced operations and staffing of the Federal Aviation Administration during fiscal year 2013 to ensure a safe and efficient air transportation system; and provided that none of the funds transferred under this subsection may be obligated unless the Secretary notifies the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate at least 5 days in advance of such transfer.