Yesterday, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) joined representatives from United Airlines to tour George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), while discussing the ways IAH and Houston area airports will benefit from federal investments from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. 

“The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) will invest $1.2 billion for infrastructure development at Texas airports in the next five years, including more than $55.6 million for Houston area airports this year alone,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher.  “These airport upgrades will expand economic development opportunities in our community while making our airports safer and more efficient by addressing repair and maintenance backlogs to reduce congestion.  I was glad to tour IAH and discuss IIJA’s impact with airline representatives, as well as highlight what we can achieve with federal investments in our airports.”

Congresswoman Fletcher voted in support of the IIJA when it passed the House in November 2021.  President Biden signed the bill into law, providing direct support to communities upgrading their infrastructure and improving their transportation.  In addition to the guaranteed funds below, airports can compete for grants from an additional $5 billion nationally for terminal and landside improvements.  The law also includes an additional $5 billion for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) towers and facilities funding, which the FAA will distribute among airports in need throughout the U.S.  

For airports, the IIJA provides:

• $15 billion over a five-year period for airport projects across the United States, including improvements to runways, improvements to taxiways, and terminal development;

• $40.2 million for IAH this year;

• $14.68 million for William P. Hobby Airport this year; and 

• $763,000 for Sugar Land Regional Airport this year.