Washington, D.C. – Today, the House passed H.R. 302, as amended, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018. This bipartisan legislation reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Department of Transportation (DOT), and the Essential Air Service (EAS) for five years. It will soon be sent to the President to be signed into law.
“This reauthorization and infrastructure package is critical to the safety of air traffic and to the development of our airports,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “I was pleased that my initiative was included to promote more opportunity for women in the aviation industry. This bill also reauthorizes the Essential Air Service, which is critical to maintaining commercial air service for small, rural airports in our district. The economic success of our region is closely tied to the health of our local airports and air service, and I am pleased to support this important legislation that will soon be signed into law.”
The FAA Reauthorization Act:
- Reauthorizes the FAA and the DOT to carry out activities related to civil aviation for five years
- Increases and fully authorizes the Airport Improvement Program, which funds construction of critical infrastructure at airports of all sizes to ensure the long-term sustainability of airports across the country including smaller communities
- Streamlines the FAA certification process to ensure U.S. companies can compete globally and get their products to market on time
- Includes a number of safety provisions to protect the traveling public
- Includes provisions to address the passenger experience, strengthen consumer protection laws, and maintain the Department of Transportation’s oversight of aviation consumer issues
- Provides the FAA with a number of tools, methods, and strategies to mitigate the impact of airport noise and the communities neighboring airports
- Advances drone technologies to the next step in safe unmanned aircraft system integration
- Includes the Disaster Recovery Reform Act which:
- Reforms the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Stafford Act by ensuring that a percentage of assistance provided in the wake of disasters is invested in predisaster hazard mitigation so that states, tribal, and local governments can pre-empt the damage and distress that results from disasters
- Clarifies what may be eligible for mitigation funding, making sure investments are cost effective and reduce risk
- Speeds recovery by creating efficiencies in FEMA’s programs such as getting structures inspected faster
Rep. Stefanik cosponsored The Promoting Women in the Aviation Workforce Act that was included in this legislation and would:
- Express the sense of Congress that the aviation industry should explore all opportunities to encourage and support women to pursue a career in aviation;
- Direct the FAA to create and facilitate a Women in Aviation Advisory Board to promote organizations and programs that provide education, training, mentorship, outreach, and recruitment of women in the aviation industry; and
- Direct the FAA to submit a report to Congress on common trends that discourage women from pursuing aviation careers; expanding existing scholarship opportunities for women in aviation; and coordinating professional training and recruitment programs
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