Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) voted in support of H.R. 4 – the FAA Reauthorization Act. This bipartisan legislation reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) for five years.
“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 two of my initiatives were included to protect America’s international air carriers from unfair business practices and 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 bipartisan, five-year reauthorization today.”
This legislation passed the House by a vote of 393-13.
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
Provisions Rep. Stefanik cosponsored that were adopted to the base bill and during the amendment process include:
The Promoting Women in the Aviation Workforce Act, which 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
The Flags of Convenience Don’t Fly Here Act:
This bill would require that DOT formally consider the applicability of Article 17 bis in instances where a foreign air carrier permit has been contested by an interested party. It would also direct DOT to work with the State Department on developing negotiating policies to address flag of convenience carrier policies.
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