Sponsors (6)
The bill shifts more aviation fuel tax burden onto private/non‑commercial users while creating a tax‑funded trust and targeted grants to expand air monitoring and transit for disadvantaged communities — trading higher costs for some aviation users and potential fiscal complexity in exchange for targeted environmental, health, and transit investments.
Low-income and disadvantaged communities will receive targeted grants for air monitoring and transit improvements, with at least 50% of funds reserved for them.
Communities near pollution sources gain expanded air monitoring (fenceline, multipollutant stations, sensors), improving pollution detection and public-health response.
Public transit and passenger rail within ~20 miles of airports and transit in disadvantaged areas can be expanded or improved, potentially lowering travel costs and emissions for nearby riders.
Most private (non‑commercial) aviation users, charter services, and related small businesses will face much higher fuel costs (roughly an added ~$1.68/gal plus the base tax), significantly raising operating costs starting in 2026.
Higher fuel taxes and narrowed exemptions could make essential rural/remote aviation services (medevac, chartered supply runs) and some arborist/tree‑care operations more costly or less available, harming rural communities' access to services.
Redirecting excise tax receipts into the new trust fund may reduce funds available for existing uses like the Airport and Airway Trust Fund and related aviation programs unless offsets are provided.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Raises excise taxes on private aviation fuel and directs specified fuel tax receipts into a new Clean Communities Trust Fund for air monitoring and transit grants, effective 2026.
Introduced January 21, 2025 by Edward John Markey · Last progress January 21, 2025
Raises federal excise taxes on non‑commercial (private) aviation fuel beginning January 1, 2026, by setting a new per‑gallon rate and indexing part of it for inflation. Creates a new Treasury trust fund fed by specified portions of those fuel excise receipts to support air monitoring, targeted pollution mitigation, and public transit improvements — with at least half of funds reserved for disadvantaged communities — and includes a limited refundable carve‑out for certain non‑commercial flights through 2027. Also narrows an existing tax exemption for certain air transportation uses (tree‑care) where flights use federally assisted airport facilities. The new fund pays out grants and activities authorized under the Clean Air Act and is available by appropriation.