Rep. Calvert Introduces Bill to Facilitate Ontario International Airport Transfer

Statement

Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) introduced legislation, H.R. 4369, to facilitate the transfer of Ontario International Airport from the city of Los Angeles to the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA).

"Inland Empire residents are ready to take back local control of Ontario Airport and I'm happy to take whatever steps are necessary to achieve that goal," said Rep. Calvert. "This legislation has broad, bipartisan support and I'm hopeful Congress will approve it quickly. I'm looking to the day in the near future when the Inland Empire once again controls a major international airport."

"Local control of Ontario Airport will be a significant economic driver for the entire Inland Empire economy, and the legislation being introduced today gets us one step closer to finalizing that process," said Rep. Norma J. Torres (CA-35). "I appreciate Rep. Calvert's support and the bipartisan response from Members throughout the LA region to help the city of Ontario regain control of the airport."

"We welcome and are grateful for the federal legislation introduced today by a bipartisan coalition of Southern California congressional members -- Reps. Calvert, Cook, Napolitano, Ruiz and Torres -- that helps facilitate the transfer of Ontario International Airport to local control," said Alan Wapner, President, Ontario International Airport Authority, and Ontario City Councilmember. "Their action demonstrates their commitment to the goal of ensuring the region has the necessary airport capacity to meet the growing demand for air travel while making the greatest contribution to the Inland Empire economy."

"Ontario International Airport is the Inland Empire's No. 1 economic engine," said Ontario Mayor Paul Leon. "The legislation introduced in the House of Representatives today by Reps. Calvert, Cook, Napolitano, Ruiz and Torres will help facilitate the transfer of the airport to local control. It is another example of how members of Congress from Southern California are working to promote jobs and economic growth in the region. We thank them for their tremendous support at this crucial time."

The agreement to transfer Ontario Airport is structured in such a way that $120 million in Passenger Facilities Charges (PFC) is required to be transferred from ONT to Los Angeles Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) over ten years. Specifically, $50 million in ONT PFCs must be reimbursed to LAWA in five years and an additional $70 million in ONT PFCs must be paid back to LAWA/LAX in ten years. This transaction represents a reimbursement of LAX PFCs that were transferred to ONT in the 1990s to help pay for the construction of a new terminal. Under current law PFCs are only permitted to be applied to the airport or airport systems that they are collected. Since LAX and ONT will no longer be connected this legislation is necessary.

The following members have cosponsored the legislation:Norma Torres (CA-35), Paul Cook (CA-8), Grace Napolitano (CA-32), Raul Ruiz (CA-36), Pete Aguilar (CA-31) and Mark Takano (CA-41).

Companion legislation is being introduced today in the Senate by California Senators Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer.

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