House passes FAA reauthorization bill with overwhelming support

Today, the House of Representatives passed the FAA reauthorization bill with overwhelming support. The Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act reauthorizes the FAA and aviation safety and infrastructure programs for the next five years.

The legislation was passed with strong bipartisan support in a 351-69 vote. It was introduced on June 9 by the T&I Committee Chairman Sam Graves, T&I Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen, Aviation Subcommittee Charman Garret Graves, and Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Steve Cohen. The bill was approved by the T&I Committee in a unanimous 63-0 vote on June 14 and has since gained support from over 1,000 leaders and stakeholders in the aviation industry.

“America has always been the gold standard in aviation, and this bill ensures that we remain the world leader,” Committee Chairman Graves said. “This bipartisan legislation improves the safety of our system, our airport infrastructure, and the quality of service for passengers. Not only that, this bill will make the FAA more efficient, encourage the safe adoption of new and innovative technologies, and address growing workforce shortages, from pilots and mechanics to air traffic controllers. In addition, this bill provides the first title dedicated specifically to our critical general aviation sector – the backbone of the American aviation system. I appreciate the work of all my colleagues who helped develop and move this bill through the House today, and I look forward to finishing work on this bill with the Senate before the current FAA law expires in September.”

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The aviation industry has been advocating for funding all year, with the hope to improve safety across the nation. The FAA Reauthorization Act was signed into law on Oct. 5 and was set to expire in September. The NBAA and GAMA have made statements, applauding the House’s decision.

“We are hopeful that momentum and bipartisanship will continue to build for Congress to pass a timely FAA reauthorization bill,” GAMA President Pete Bunce said. “GAMA is committed to working with Congress to ensure that the FAA reauthorization bill enhances the agency’s ability to deliver critical activities that promote safety, infrastructure, innovation and competitiveness.”

“We thank Chairman Sam Graves and Ranking Member Rick Larsen for their vision, commitment to bipartisanship and willingness to work with stakeholders to address the challenges facing the national airspace system and reinforce the United States as the global leader in aviation,” NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said. “I also thank NBAA members and other industry stakeholders who answered our recent call to action encouraging their elected representatives to support this important bill.”

The bill targeted various changes in the organizational structure of the FAA to improve the agency’s overall efficiency. The passage will ensure the FAA has the organization needed to continue ongoing efforts and achieve new efforts to advance aviation.

“Today, the House voted to bolster America’s global aviation leadership,” Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen said. “This good faith process yielded a bipartisan bill that will create a safer, cleaner, greener, and more accessible U.S. aviation system. It will maintain our gold standard in safety and innovation, make a more sustainable and resilient aviation sector a reality, and improve accessibility and consumer protections for all passengers. This is also a jobs bill. It helps to build the economy from the middle out and the bottom up and diversifies our workforce, recognizing how critical that effort is to our nation’s long-term economic success. I appreciate the partnership and collaboration of Chair Sam Graves, Subcommittee Ranking Member Steve Cohen, and Subcommittee Chair Garret Graves on delivering this bipartisan bill to secure the future of America’s aviation system.”

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The bill will fortify the General Aviation sector. Most pilots and mechanics start their careers in GA and the bill will address various workforce challenges to those pursuing an aviation career. It will help to grow the aviation workforce and improve training standards. The bill will also help to grow airport infrastructure, create jobs and economic growth. Passing the bill means authorizing vast funding for airports across the country, including investments for small and GA airports.

The goal of the passage is to improve standards and return the U.S. to the gold standard in aviation and aviation safety. The bill’s passage also updates the NTSB’s authorization, which investigates civil aviation accidents and other modes of transportation, playing a vital role in safety throughout all modes of transportation in the U.S.

Now, the House and Senate will work out a final bill before the September deadline.

“The strong bipartisan vote today makes clear America will continue to be the global leader in aviation technology, trade, safety, and commercial air travel,” Aviation Chairman Garret Graves said. “The aviation bill makes transformative changes in the passenger experience and private aviation. Innovators in the Unmanned Aerial Systems and Advanced Air Mobility space also get the regulatory certainty they need to deploy some of the world’s most impressive technologies. I want to thank Chairman Sam Graves, Ranking Member Rick Larsen, Subcommittee Ranking Member Steve Cohen, and all our committee members for getting this legislation to this significant milestone.”

“I am pleased to see a bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act receive overwhelming approval by the House,” Aviation Ranking Member Steve Cohen said. “This transformative legislation, which required compromises from both sides, will improve the safety of the flying public, create good jobs and bolster the aviation workforce pipeline, and take important steps to protect consumers, including those with disabilities. This is a good bill, and I am proud to support it. I am hopeful we can work out a final bill with the Senate well before our September deadline.”