What This Bill Does
This bill requires the Secretary of the Army to renew the lease agreement between the U.S. Army and the City of Corona, California for operating the Corona Municipal Airport. The bill prevents certain Army policies from being applied to this lease so the airport can continue operating.
Who It Affects
- The City of Corona, California
- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Small businesses operating at Corona Municipal Airport
- Aviators and recreational pilots in southern California
- Local residents who use the airport
Key Provisions
- The Secretary of the Army must renew the lease between the Department of the Army and the City of Corona for operating Corona Municipal Airport within the Prado Flood Control Basin Project Area (Sec. 2)
- The Secretary of the Army must not apply chapter 16 of the Corps of Engineers Operation and Maintenance Policy ER 1130-2-550 (a government operations manual) to this lease (Sec. 2)
What Changes
The lease agreement, which was set to expire on January 30, 2037, will be renewed instead of expiring. The Corona Municipal Airport will be able to continue operating without certain Army regulations being enforced against it.
Important Definitions
None defined in the bill text.
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. 1820
To require the Secretary of the Army to renew the lease of land for operations
of the Corona Municipal Airport, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 28, 2023
Mr. CALVERT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
A BILL
To require the Secretary of the Army to renew the lease
of land for operations of the Corona Municipal Airport,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
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Congress finds the following:
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(1) In 1960, Corona established the Corona
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Municipal Airport to provide recreational opportuni-
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ties for aviators throughout southern California.
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(2) The City of Corona initially entered into a
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lease agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engi-
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neers on December 24, 1959.
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•HR 1820 IH
(3) The City’s lease with the Corps of Engi-
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neers enabled the construction of the airport into its
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current configuration.
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(4) For over 60 years, the Corona Municipal
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Airport has supported local businesses, tourism, and
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recreation for local residents and the region.
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(5) The Corona Municipal Airport maintains
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the capability to assist in public safety efforts to
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protect life and property where aviation assets may
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be necessary.
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(6) The Corona Municipal Airport supports ap-
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proximately one dozen local, small businesses.
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(7) The Corona Municipal Airport continues to
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drive business development and local tourism for the
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City of Corona and connect people throughout
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southern California to those opportunities.
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(8) The City of Corona’s lease with the Corps
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of Engineers is set to expire on January 30, 2037,
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without an opportunity to grandfather the facility
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under existing policies.
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(9) The closure of the Corona Municipal Air-
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port would deprive aviators of significant opportuni-
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ties to enjoy this recreation pastime as fewer small,
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recreational airports in the region remain open and
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accessible.
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•HR 1820 IH
(10) Extending the City’s lease with the Corps
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of Engineers would allow this culturally and eco-
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nomically significant facility to continue serving avi-
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ators in the region.
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SEC. 2. CORONA AIRPORT LEASE RENEWAL, PRADO DAM,
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CA.
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Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Sec-
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retary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers,
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shall not apply chapter 16 of the Corps of Engineers Oper-
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ation and Maintenance Policy ER 1130–2–550 (March
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30, 2009) to the lease of land and water areas within the
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Prado Flood Control Basin Project Area between the De-
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partment of the Army and the City of Corona, California,
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for the operation of the Corona Municipal Airport (Recre-
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ation Lease No. DACW09–1–67–60) and shall renew such
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lease.
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Æ
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