This bill expands noise mitigation funding to communities affected by aircraft flying at 3,000 feet or below within one mile of flight routes, even if outside the standard 65 decibel zone. The FAA must conduct outreach, allow communities to petition for assessments, and provide grants for soundproofing homes and public buildings.
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill expands noise mitigation funding to communities affected by aircraft flying at 3,000 feet or below within one mile of flight routes, even if outside the standard 65 decibel zone. The FAA must conduct outreach, allow communities to petition for assessments, and provide grants for soundproofing homes and public buildings.
Last updated: 1/6/2026
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Aviation-Impacted Communities Act</strong></p><p>This bill increases access to noise mitigation measures for aviation-impacted communities.<em> </em>Under the bill, an <em>aviation-impacted community</em> is a community that is located not more than one mile from any point at which a commercial or cargo jet route is 3,000 feet or less above ground level.</p><p>The bill expands noise mitigation program funding under the Airport Improvement Program to include aviation-impacted communities that are not currently within the 65 day-night average sound level (DNL) standard.</p><p>The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must conduct outreach to aviation-impacted communities to inform them of the opportunity to be a designated community. A designated community must form a community board to provide information to airport operators and the FAA concerning aviation impacts (e.g., aircraft noise).</p><p>A community board may petition the FAA to conduct a community assessment and, based on the assessment, the FAA must devise an action plan that alleviates or addresses the community’s concerns.</p><p>In addition, the FAA must enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study and provide the FAA with a framework and diagnostic tool for conducting community assessments.</p><p>The FAA must provide grants for necessary noise mitigation in a designated community for residences, hospitals, nursing homes, adult or child day care centers, schools, and places of worship. Further, the FAA and airport operators must provide (1) noise mitigation grants for communities subject to significant frequency of overhead flights, and (2) noise mitigation for residences impacted by significant nighttime aircraft noise.</p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Expands noise mitigation to communities outside 65 decibel zone
Covers areas within one mile of low-altitude flight routes
Requires FAA outreach and community assessments
Provides grants for soundproofing homes and buildings
Addresses daytime and nighttime aircraft noise impacts
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
Residents living near low-altitude flight paths could receive help with noise mitigation even if not in the loudest zones. Communities could petition for assessments and receive grants for soundproofing homes, schools, and places of worship.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Transportation and Public Works
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
897, 119th Congress (2025). "Aviation-Impacted Communities Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-897