- January 27, 2021, 9:20 AM Republican leaders on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (T&I) are hoping to help spur expedited airport construction projects under a new bill that facilitates the use of incentives for early completion of runways and other such work. Introduced by T&I committee ranking member Sam Graves (R-Missouri) and aviation subcommittee ranking member Garret Graves (R-Louisiana), the Expedited Delivery of Airport Infrastructure Act of 2021 (H.R. 468) would make early construction completion incentives eligible for federal grants through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). The bill reverses a stumbling block in place for use of AIP funds for incentives, taking an approach in use for road and bridge projects, the lawmakers said. Under the bill, the incentives must be for projects that would increase capacity and efficiency and result in cost savings as a result of the shortened project. In addition, the bill would cap the incentives to 5 percent of the initial construction cost or $1 million, whichever is lower.