
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 49USC49101]

 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
                     SUBTITLE VII--AVIATION PROGRAMS
 
                         PART D--PUBLIC AIRPORTS
 
              CHAPTER 491--METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON AIRPORTS
 
Sec. 49101. Findings

    Congress finds that--
        (1) the 2 federally owned airports in the metropolitan area of 
    the District of Columbia constitute an important and growing part of 
    the commerce, transportation, and economic patterns of Virginia, the 
    District of Columbia, and the surrounding region;
        (2) Baltimore/Washington International Airport, owned and 
    operated by Maryland, is an air transportation facility that 
    provides service to the greater Metropolitan Washington region 
    together with the 2 federally owned airports, and timely Federal-aid 
    grants to Baltimore/Washington International Airport will provide 
    additional capacity to meet the growing air traffic needs and to 
    compete with other airports on a fair basis;
        (3) the United States Government has a continuing but limited 
    interest in the operation of the 2 federally owned airports, which 
    serve the travel and cargo needs of the entire Metropolitan 
    Washington region as well as the District of Columbia as the 
    national seat of government;
        (4) operation of the Metropolitan Washington Airports by an 
    independent local authority will facilitate timely improvements at 
    both airports to meet the growing demand of interstate air 
    transportation occasioned by the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 
    (Public Law 95-504; 92 Stat. 1705);
        (5) all other major air carrier airports in the United States 
    are operated by public entities at the State, regional, or local 
    level;
        (6) any change in status of the 2 airports must take into 
    account the interest of nearby communities, the traveling public, 
    air carriers, general aviation, airport employees, and other 
    interested groups, as well as the interests of the United States 
    Government and State governments involved;
        (7) in recognition of a perceived limited need for a Federal 
    role in the management of these airports and the growing local 
    interest, the Secretary of Transportation has recommended a transfer 
    of authority from the Federal to the local/State level that is 
    consistent with the management of major airports elsewhere in the 
    United States;
        (8) an operating authority with representation from local 
    jurisdictions, similar to authorities at all major airports in the 
    United States, will improve communications with local officials and 
    concerned residents regarding noise at the Metropolitan Washington 
    Airports;
        (9) a commission of congressional, State, and local officials 
    and aviation representatives has recommended to the Secretary that 
    transfer of the federally owned airports be as a unit to an 
    independent authority to be created by Virginia and the District of 
    Columbia; and
        (10) the Federal interest in these airports can be provided 
    through a lease mechanism which provides for local control and 
    operation.

(Added Pub. L. 105-102, Sec. 2(26), Nov. 20, 1997, 111 Stat. 2206.)

                                          Historical and Revision Notes
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---------------------------------
            Revised Section                    Source (U.S. Code)              
 Source (Statutes at Large)
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---------------------------------
49101.................................  (uncodified).                    Oct. 1
8, 1986, Pub. L. 99-500, title
                                                                          VI, S
ec.  6002, 100 Stat. 1783-373.
                                                                         Oct. 3
0, 1986, Pub. L. 99-591, title
                                                                          VI, S
ec.  6002, 100 Stat. 3341-376.
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    In clause (4), the word ``authority'' is substituted for ``agency'' 
for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United 
States Code.

                       References in Text

    The Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, referred to in par. (4), is 
Pub. L. 95-504, Oct. 24, 1978, 92 Stat. 1705, as amended, which was 
classified principally to sections of former Title 49, Transportation. 
The Act was substantially repealed by Pub. L. 103-272, Sec. 7(b), July 
5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1379, the first section of which enacted subtitles 
II, III, and V to X of Title 49, Transportation. For complete 
classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. For disposition of 
sections of former Title 49, see Table at the beginning of Title 49.


                            Prior Provisions

    A prior section 49101 was renumbered section 50101 of this title.
