ICYMI: Davids Highlights Bipartisan Accomplishments in Yesterday’s FAA Reauthorization
Today, Representative Sharice Davids penned a guest column in the Kansas City Star highlighting how the bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization will improve customer protections and accessibility while flying, increase America’s aviation safety standards, and strengthen domestic aviation workforce and manufacturing. The House-passed legislation included two Davids-sponsored amendments to improve safety outcomes for aviation companies like Garmin and modernize control tower/pilot communications – both of which passed with bipartisan support.
Read Davids’ column in the Kansas City Star:
“Republicans and Democrats in the House came together, without theatrics, to pass bipartisan legislation that reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The bill contains provisions that will have a huge impact on our flying experience and the economy in Kansas City and across the country.
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“Yesterday’s reauthorization includes consumer protections that require airlines to reimburse passengers for unexpected meal and hotel costs and to establish policies allowing passengers to sit next to their young children. It also contains improved safety standards for air travel to help decrease airport near-collisions, review airplane emergency medical kits and evacuation procedures, and improve cabin air quality.
“Moreover, this bipartisan reauthorization uplifts our local aviation workforce and boosts domestic manufacturing, especially important in Kansas where we have a legacy of aviation manufacturing.
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“Of course, there are parts of the bill I disagree with — that’s the nature of legislating in a bipartisan way. I introduced an amendment that would protect ticket transparency standards so folks know exactly what they are paying for when purchasing an airline ticket and how much it will cost. I also spoke out against provisions to change pilot age requirements…
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“I’m incredibly proud to have worked alongside Republicans and Democrats to support Kansas' rich heritage of aviation manufacturing and to ensure airline passengers are both safe and treated fairly. I hope bipartisan support continues as the Senate considers its version of the FAA reauthorization and I look forward to working on the final compromise.”
Background:
Davids, a member of the U.S House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, previously spoke with airline professionals about how the overall flying experience, including safety and transparency of those hidden fees, could be improved. She also called on the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg to provide answers for January’s aviation safety notification system meltdown and to hold airlines accountable for recent mass cancellations.
Yesterday’s House passage of the FAA reauthorization follows a series of House Transportation and Infrastructure hearings on various aviation issues and the solicitation of input from Members of Congress and the aviation stakeholder community. The Senate has released a separate, bipartisan legislative plan to reauthorize the FAA. The House and Senate will likely prioritize a combination of the two bills that will pass in both chambers before the 2018 FAA reauthorization expires on September 30, 2023.