Foxtrot, Alpha, Alpha
I am pleased to announce that the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 has passed and will be signed by President Biden today. While on its face this legislation may appear fairly straightforward, the circumstances in which it passed are rare in today's divided Congress.
The FAA Reauthorization Act is the result of months of good-faith work between House and Senate leaders. I am humbled that during a time of hyperpartisanship, my colleagues in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed the bill with a unanimous 63 to 0 vote in Committee.
Today, I am celebrating that we came together and ultimately passed a truly bipartisan, bicameral piece of legislation for the good of our country. Thanks to the FAA Reauthorization Act we will be able to:
- Improve Airports: The Airport Improvement Program (AIP) will provide over $60 billion in grants for planning and improving public-use airports, from Seattle-Tacoma International to regional and harbor airports all across our district and the country.
- Increase Safety: Safety technology will be improved across the board, including 25-hour cockpit voice recordings on every commercial airline and the latest airport surface situational awareness technologies to reduce "close call" near-collisions.
- Invest in our workforce: $60 million will be provided for workforce grants to build and grow the talent pipeline of pilots, aviation maintenance technical workers, and aviation manufacturing workers.
- Increase Accessibility: Accessibility standards will be raised, with new rules and trainings to reduce damage to wheelchairs and mobility aids and to better accommodate wheelchairs onboard aircrafts.
- Protect Consumers: Airlines will be required to automatically refund passengers booked on canceled or substantially delayed flights, and will be required to notify passengers of their right to a refund.
I could not be more proud of this legislation, which will make air travel safer and more accessible while keeping ticket-holders protected — in addition to adding hundreds of good-paying jobs here in Washington state.
More soon,
Rick
