Although the costs of inaction on infrastructure will continue to mount, it is essential that Congress present smart, fiscally responsible solutions. Unfortunately for the American people, the recent proposal put forward by House Democrats dubbed the “Moving Forward Framework” is neither smart nor fiscally responsible. In the words of Reason’s Christian Britschgi, the plan from House Democrats is “heavy on funding ideas, but light on funding sources.”

The passenger facility charge (PFC) is a local user fee included in the cost of an airline ticket that can be used by airports for specific purposes defined by statute and regulation. These purposes include airport or terminal developments and improvements, noise reduction, and competition among air carriers. The PFC is currently capped at $4.50 per passenger per flight segment. For a round-trip, direct flight from Atlanta to Washington, D.C, for example, the PFC would be a total of $9.00. A round trip flight from Atlanta to Washington, D.C., with layovers in Charlotte on both destination and return flights, would be capped at $18.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the federal agency designed to regulate air travel, is currently up for reauthorization as its funding and authority are set to expire in September later this year. Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Penn.), chair of the House Transportation Committee, has introduced the Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization (AIRR) Act to do just that and more.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is up for reauthorization this year. Already, there have been several reform proposals, including taking air traffic control (ATC) from federal hands and turning it into a non-profit corporation.