Struggling Maryland Airports Get Funds in Federal Spending Bill

Nov. 22--WASHINGTON -- A spending bill that cleared Congress last week contains $5 million to help compensate three small Maryland airports for expenses and lost revenue due to restrictions imposed after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

College Park Airport, Potomac Airfield in Fort Washington and Washington Executive/Hyde Field in Clinton would be eligible for the money, which is to be parceled out by the Department of Transportation.

The three airports, like general-aviation airfields across the nation, were shuttered for a time after the attacks. Because of their proximity to Washington, all three remain under strict security rules -- which, according to airport officials, have drastically curtailed business.

The funding was announced by Maryland Sens. Barbara A. Mikulski and Paul S. Sarbanes and Rep. Steny H. Hoyer. Mikulski and Hoyer are members of the powerful Appropriations committees.

President Bush is expected to sign the overall bill, which funds transportation projects, as well as the departments of the Treasury and Housing and Urban Development.