Kansans Join Davids to Urge Final Passage of FAA Reauthorization to Improve Consumer Protections, Safety for Air Travelers

Today,Representative Sharice Davids and other Kansans urged bipartisan congressional action on a final Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization that improves customer protections while flying, increases America’s aviation safety standards, and strengthens domestic aviation workforce and manufacturing. Davids voted to pass an overwhelmingly bipartisan FAA reauthorization last July, but the bill has since stalled, causing Congress to pass yet another extension earlier this week. Without action on a final bill before May 17, 2024, the FAA risks losing $54 million per day.

“Our economy depends on reliable air travel for people and goods to keep our communities moving and maintain a strong domestic supply chain.” said Davids. “Congress has delayed the FAA reauthorization, which is critical to air travel, for too long. We must get this bill across the finish line so that Kansans are protected financially, feel safe while flying, and have access to good-paying aviation manufacturing jobs.  There’s no time to waste in averting the staffing shortages and supply chain backlogs that come with further delay.”

The bill would improve airline customer protections by directing the U.S. Department of Transportation 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, and establish policies allowing passengers to sit next to their young child.

"I've had my fair share of unfortunate experiences with airlines, including falsely advertised flights that forced me to find my own hotel accommodations without help or explanation from the airline, and waiting on the runway without air conditioning, toilets, or water,” said Nancy Wagner, Overland Park resident. “These all-too-common experiences show the need for strong consumer protections while flying, which is why Congress must pass the FAA reauthorization quickly. These protections are crucial, so let's make sure this reauthorization happens!"

“For too long, airlines have taken advantage of people's willingness to pay whatever it costs to travel,” said Nancy Empson, Olathe resident. “When refunds are hard to get and no other accommodations are made for passengers, it doesn’t seem fair. Consumers need the protections provided in the FAA reauthorization bill in order to be sure the airlines do what they should for passengers.”

The bill would increase America’s aviation safety standards by decreasing the risk of airport near-collisions, reviewing airplane passenger emergency medical kits and evacuation procedures, and requiring the FAA to update security measures to help prevent assaults against flight crews and passengers.

“I support the FAA reauthorization bill because it will have a positive impact on the safety of both commercial and general aviation,” said Ethan LeGrand, Overland Park resident. “The reauthorization will ensure that our airspace is properly staffed and technology is up to date so that commercial and GA flights continue to operate in a safe manner."

“As a Kansas-based technology firm specializing in aviation, the safe operation of our national airspace is foundational to our work and to that of many local businesses,” said Christian Stallings, Lenexa resident. “Our innovations in unmanned aerial systems, crucial for tasks such as infrastructure inspection and surveying, depend entirely on a reliably safe airspace. It is imperative that the FAA Reauthorization Act passes to maintain this safety and to prepare our skies for advanced technologies. Failing to do so not only jeopardizes our operations but also undermines the aviation excellence that America is known for.”

The bill would strengthen U.S. aviation workforce and manufacturing by hiring more air traffic controller agents to combat the current shortage and boosting American manufacturing through limiting Chinese-owned companies from accessing federal dollars.

"The FAA operating without reauthorization would severely impact air traffic controllers and their families, including mine,” said Stephanie Dunn, Olathe resident. “With my husband as the sole provider and working long hours due to staffing shortages, it would strain our finances and add to the stress of caring for our children who have medical needs. Adequate staffing is crucial for safe air travel, and prolonged activity without reauthorization would only worsen an already challenging situation for controllers and their families."

To highlight the urgency of passing an FAA reauthorization bill, Davids previously toured New Century AirCenter’s 81-year-old air traffic control center, which Johnson County officials have prioritized for upgrade due to structural and safety deficiencies. If the FAA authorization was to expire, airports like New Century AirCenter would suffer due to the loss of air traffic controllers and increased safety concerns.

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.