Facility for Runway Operations and Safe Transportation Act
The Facility for Runway Operations and Safe Transportation Act (FROST Act) is a short bill that seeks to change how aircraft deicing facilities are treated under the federal airport development program. The bill’s title and stated purpose suggest expanding the definition to include aircraft deicing storage facilities as part of airport development. However, the actual text of Sec. 2 would amend a provision of the U.S. Code by striking the phrase that currently describes storage facilities for deicing equipment and fluids from the definition of airport development. This creates an apparent drafting inconsistency: the bill aims to include deicing storage facilities, but the enacted language, as written, would remove that specific category from the definition. The bill has been introduced in the 119th Congress, passed the House on September 8, 2025, and was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Key Points
- 1Short title and purpose: The act is titled the “Facility for Runway Operations and Safe Transportation Act” (FROST Act) and aims to amend title 49 to include aircraft deicing storage facilities in the definition of airport development.
- 2Specific amendment: Sec. 2 would amend Section 47102(3)(B)(v) of title 49 by striking the phrase “and storage facilities for the equipment and fluids.”
- 3Apparent drafting inconsistency: While the caption and purpose indicate inclusion of deicing storage facilities, the actual textual change removes that item from the definition, potentially narrowing rather than expanding eligible airport development projects.
- 4Legislative status: Introduced in the 119th Congress; passed the House on September 8, 2025; referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on September 9, 2025.
- 5No funding or standards details: The bill’s text does not specify new funding levels, regulatory standards, or environmental requirements; it merely alters a definitional provision, with implementation questions to be resolved by future rulemaking or legislation.