How could area airports be impacted by potential infrastructure bill?
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  President Joe Bidens $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill looked like a done deal for both Democrats and Republicans, but now frustrations are mounting. This comes as the President says he wont sign the bill unless a separate deal is passed  that includes up to a $6-trillion dollar package with other Democrat programs, including child care and climate change. That measure has no Republican support. Lawmakers say President Biden and his negotiators will need to finalize the agreement. Its very disappointing to me that the President said what he said, explained U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran during a visit to Wichita on Friday. Theres some indication he is walking back his statement but I would say that this is important for this bill to stand on its own.  $25 billion from the infrastructure deal was intended for airports. We really need that money, explained Valerie Wise, ICTs air service and marketing manager. Weve had to cut spending quite a bit in the past year because of the pandemic so this money is very much needed.  Wise says theres several projects they hope to start next year including repaving some of the airports tarmac. That General Aviation project is thought going to be a $50 million project and the taxiway probably another $10 million, so we really need that money.  its not only large airports that could feel the impact from this $25 billion. Harvey County Commissioner Chip Westfall added, It will help local small airports, not so much in passenger service, but in maintaining the infrastructure of the runway, the glideslope technology and all of that kind of stuff.  But for now, its all depends on this bill remaining a bipartisan agreement. What happened yesterday was a real setback toward trying to find something that would be broadly supported past congress and be signed by the President, said Sen. Moran. Senator Moran says he is still willing to work to see if theres something to be done, but were now a ways from having the announcement that he thought occurred yesterday with President Biden.