Ill STAT. 1448 PUBLIC LAW 105-66—OCT. 27, 1997 Department using fair and equitable criteria and such funds shall be available until December 31, 1998. SEC. 339. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Department of the Navy is directed to transfer the USNS EDENTON (ATS-1), currently in Inactive Ship status, to the United States Coast Guard. 49 USC 47107 SEC. 340. (a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that— note. (1) Congress has the authority under article I, section 8 of the Constitution to regulate the air commerce of the United States; (2) section 47107 of title 49, United States Code, prohibits the diversion of certain revenue generated by a public airport as a condition of receiving a project grant; (3) a grant recipient that uses airport revenues for purposes that are not airport-related in a manner inconsistent with chapter 471 of title 49, United States Code, illegally diverts airport revenues; (4) illegal diversion of airport revenues undermines the interest of the United States in promoting a strong national air transportation system; (5) the policy of the United States that airports should be as self-sustaining as possible and that revenues generated at airports should not be diverted from airport purposes was stated by Congress in 1982 and reaffirmed and strengthened in 1987, 1994, and 1996; (6) certain airports are constructed on Isinds that may have belonged, at one time, to Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, or Alaska Natives; (7) contrary to the prohibition against diverting airport revenues from airport purposes under section 47107 of title 49, United States Code, certain payments from airport revenues may have been made for the betterment of Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, or Alaska Natives based upon the claims related to lands ceded to the United States; (8) Federal law prohibits diversions of airport revenues obtained from any source whatsoever to occur in the future whether related to claims for periods of time prior to or after the date of enactment of this Act; and (9) because of the special circumstances surrounding such past diversions of airport revenues for the betterment of Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, or Alaska Natives, it is in the national interest that amounts from airport revenues previously received by any entity for the betterment of Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, or Alaska Natives, as specified in subsection (b) of this section, should not be subject to repayment. (b) TERMINATION OF REPAYMENT RESPONSIBILITY.— Notwithstanding the provisions of 47107 of title 49, United States Code, or any other provision of law, monies paid for claims related to ceded lands and diverted from airport revenues and received prior to April 1, 1996, by any entity for the betterment of Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, or Alaska Natives, shall not be subject to repayment. (c) PROHIBITION ON FURTHER DIVERSION.— T here shall be no further payment of airport revenues for claims related to ceded lands, whether characterized as operating expenses, rent, or otherwise, and whether related to claims for periods of time prior to or after the date of enactment of this Act.
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