The House of Representatives on July 20 voted 351–69 to pass the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) reauthorization act, updating the government agency’s parameters for the next five years.
The bill, also known as the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act, is a bipartisan measure to reauthorize the FAA and the nation’s aviation safety and infrastructure programs.
“This legislation takes important steps to ensure continuity and consistency within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA),” Mr. Garret Graves said. “It makes fundamental organizational changes by updating a 1970s organizational structure for the needs of today and tomorrow alike.”
Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), who has been a pilot for more than four decades, told The Epoch Times on July 20 that despite Republicans’ suffering defeats on some amendments, the reauthorization was needed to ensure the availability of pilots and air traffic controllers—and the safety of aviation.
“I think there’s a lot of good things in there that we need to work on,” he said.
Lawmakers regarded the legislation as vital to guaranteeing the safety and prosperity of the civil aviation system for decades to come, and its enactment is critical as the current FAA law is set to expire on Sept. 30.
Mr. Sam Graves said in his statement: “For over a century, the United States has led the world in aviation safety and innovation. Unfortunately, our ‘gold standard’ status is being threatened by increasing global competition, rapid developments in technology, a shortage of aviation professionals, and inefficiencies and a lack of leadership at the FAA.”
