Would Continue To Fund The Agency In The Event Of Future Government Shutdowns

The House Committee on Transportation passed two bills Wednesday that are focused on aviation safety.

H.R. 1108 protects FAA programs and personnel, and the U.S. aviation industry as a whole, in the event of a future lapse in the agency’s appropriations. H.R. 1108 was introduced on February 8, 2019, by Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Aviation Subcommittee Chair Rick Larsen (D-WA). This bipartisan bill has 138 cosponsors.

“Our Nation’s aviation system should not be jeopardized by politics in Washington, which is why I’m proud my bill to protect the FAA from future shutdowns cleared this hurdle today,” said DeFazio. “I will continue fighting to ensure the safety of the traveling public and livelihoods of our critical aviation workforce are never compromised.”

“The government shutdown hurt American families, the U.S. aviation and aerospace economy and jeopardized the safety of the National Airspace System. Congress must do what it can to ensure the FAA, its employees and the U.S. aviation economy are protected from another government shutdown,” said Larsen. “The Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2019 will help ensure lights stay on at runways across the country.”

H.R. 1775 requires the FAA to establish a task force composed of representatives from airlines, labor, and general and business aviation, as well as aviation safety and human factors experts to review existing methods for presenting Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs). Recommendations from the task force seek to improve the presentation of information in NOTAMs and ensure their accuracy and completeness. H.R. 1775 was introduced on March 14, 2019, by Reps. Pete Stauber (R-MN) and Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA).

“The near miss incident at SFO involving Air Canada Flight 759 in July of 2017 highlighted the need to improve the antiquated NOTAM system. Clear and effective communication of important safety information to flight crews is critical to the safety of flight crews and the flying public. I am pleased to be working with Representative Stauber to complete a long-overdue safety enhancement of our aviation system, and glad that our bill is one step closer to becoming law,” said DeSaulnier.

Both bills have a long road ahead of them. They now go to the full House for consideration. Companion bills would have to pass the Senate before they could become law.

(Image from file)

FMI: transportation.house.gov