---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 47120"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "47120"
heading: "Grant priority"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/47120"
units:
  - "Subtitle VII — Aviation Programs"
  - "Part B — Airport Development and Noise"
  - "Chapter 471 — Airport Development"
  - "Subchapter I — Airport Improvement"
---

# §47120. Grant priority

- (a) **In General.—** In making a grant under this subchapter, the Secretary of Transportation may give priority to a [project](/usc/49/47102.md?p=17) that is consistent with an integrated [airport](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-9) system plan.
- (b) **Discretionary Funding To Be Used for Higher Priority Projects.—** The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall discourage [airport](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-9) [sponsors](/usc/49/47102.md?p=26) and [airports](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-9) from using entitlement funds for lower priority [projects](/usc/49/47102.md?p=17) by giving lower priority to discretionary [projects](/usc/49/47102.md?p=17) submitted by [airport](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-9) [sponsors](/usc/49/47102.md?p=26) and [airports](/usc/49/40102.md?p=a-9) that have used entitlement funds for [projects](/usc/49/47102.md?p=17) that have a lower priority than the [projects](/usc/49/47102.md?p=17) for which discretionary funds are being requested.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1274; Pub. L. 106–181, title I, § 162, Apr. 5, 2000, 114 Stat. 91.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 47120 | 49 App.:2208(b)(9). | Sept. 3, 1982, Pub. L. 97–248, § 509(b)(9), 96 Stat. 685. |

The words “In making a grant under this subchapter” are substituted for “In establishing priorities for distribution of funds available pursuant to section 2206 of this Appendix” for consistency in this chapter and to eliminate unnecessary words.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2000—Pub. L. 106–181 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted heading, and added subsec. (b).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2000 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 106–181 applicable only to fiscal years beginning after Sept. 30, 1999, see section 3 of Pub. L. 106–181, set out as a note under section 106 of this title.