Davids, Cleaver Give Joint Address to FAA Staff, Discuss Impact of New Reauthorization for Aviation Workforce and Flyers

KANSAS CITY, MO - Today, Representatives Sharice Davids (KS-03) and Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05) visited the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Central Region Headquarters to speak with FAA leadership and jointly address local aviation workers. The two Members thanked the workers for their efforts to keep Americans safe while flying and discussed the impact of the bipartisan FAA reauthorization that was signed into law last month. The package, which Davids and Cleaver both supported, strengthens domestic aviation workforce and manufacturing, improves customer protections while flying, and increases America’s aviation safety standards.

“The dedication and expertise of FAA employees are what keep our skies safe and our aviation system running smoothly. I was grateful for the opportunity to hear from them today, express my appreciation for their hard work, and discuss Representative Cleaver's and my efforts to pass a reauthorization that supports their vital role,” said Representative Davids. “Last month's bipartisan reauthorization is a significant investment in our country’s aviation industry, ensuring we have the tools needed to ensure the safety of flyers, the protection of Americans' wallets, and the uninterrupted flow of goods.”

“America has maintained its gold standard in aviation safety and innovation for over a century because the industry is built on a strong public-private partnership.  It would not be possible without robust investments from the federal government nor the invaluable work of FAA employees like those in Kansas City and all across the country,” said Congressman Cleaver. “These men and women are committed to ensuring Americans’ travel experience is safe and satisfactory, and we couldn’t be more thankful for their service to the nation. Whether it’s increasing investments to strengthen the pipeline of our aviation workforce or expanding consumer protections that alleviate unnecessary tension with innocent workers, the bipartisan FAA reauthorization is major victory for FAA employees and travelers alike.”

The bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024, which passed Congress last month, will fund the FAA for the next five years and provide new guidance and standards for the agency. It included a Davids-sponsored amendment to modernize control tower-pilot communications, which will help limit safety lapses and near misses in the skies and on airport runways. Specifically, it:

• Improves airline customer protections and accessibility by directing the Department of Transportation (DOT) to:
  • Develop policies for airlines to reimburse passengers for meal and hotel costs incurred when a flight is cancelled;
  • Require airlines to create plans to prevent and limit the impact of mass flight cancelations;
  • Establish policies allowing passengers to sit next to their young child.
• Increases America’s aviation safety standards by:
  • Decreasing the risk of airport near-collisions;
  • Reviewing airplane passenger emergency medical kits and evacuation procedures;
  • Requiring the FAA to update security measures to help prevent assaults against flight crews and passengers.
• Strengthens U.S. aviation workforce and manufacturing by:
  • Hiring more air traffic controller agents;
  • Boosting American manufacturing through limiting Chinese-owned companies from accessing federal dollars.

Davids has prioritized consumer protections and safety throughout the FAA reauthorization process. She previously introduced an amendment to the reauthorization package to ensure transparency of airline fees for consumers throughout the ticketing process. During a committee hearing, Davids spoke with airline professionals about how the overall flying experience, including safety and transparency of hidden fees, could be improved. She also called on the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg to provide answers for last year’s aviation safety notification system meltdown and to hold airlines accountable for mass cancellations.

The FAA reauthorization included additional priorities Davids has pushed for in the past, including advanced air mobility (AAM) regulations. Davids’ legislation to promote AAM, an emerging sector of the aviation industry that creates an entirely new mode of transportation using specialized vehicles to transport people and cargo, was signed into law by President Biden in 2022.