Brown Secures Wins for Youngstown, Ohio Aerospace Industry in Senate-Passed Aviation Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) voted today to pass the Federal Aviation Act Reauthorization of 2024, securing key wins for Ohio and passing provisions that will strengthen aviation safety standards, enhance consumer protections, advance technology and innovation, and support airport infrastructure.

"Today we took important steps to keep air travel safe in the United States while securing important improvements for airports and aviation workers across Ohio," said Brown. "This bill will bolster infrastructure investments we secured in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and I look forward to working with airports across Ohio to ensure they get the investment they need to make Ohio's airports - large and small - the best in the country."

The FAA Reauthorization includes:

Delivering for the Mahoning Valley:

Among the wins for Ohio that Brown delivered in the legislation is a provision designating the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport a "primary airport" - a key priority for the Mahoning Valley.

Brown introduced legislation in the Senate with U.S. Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH) to designate YNG as a primary airport. This designation will allow YNG to continue to access funding from the FAA's Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which provides grants for the planning and development of public-use airports. Former U.S. Representative Bill Johnson (R-OH-6) and U.S. Representative Dave Joyce (R-OH-14) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives. This provision will ensure YNG has the resources necessary to support the missions of the Youngstown Air Reserve Station, including its current c130 mission and future C130Js coming later this year.

Key Investments:

The legislation includes investments in:

• Key safety programs, from aircraft certification reform to air carrier oversight, and enables hiring, training and retention of staff critical to safety, like air traffic controllers and technical engineers.
• Aviation workers, including air traffic controllers, pilots, safety workers, and other essential airline workers.

• Facilities and equipment to fund modernization of key technologies and systems to ensure the resilience and development of the world's most complex airspace system.
• FAA airport infrastructure improvement grants to support more than 3,300 airports nationwide in meeting increasing demand and integration of emerging technologies.
• FAA research, engineering, and development to help America keep competitive in the global race for innovative and sustainable aerospace technology.

The bill also includes important consumer protection provisions to improve the consumer experience and set industry standards, including:

• A Clear Right to Refunds: For the first time, passengers will have clear standards in law for refunds when an airline cancels or significantly delays a flight. A refund will be required if a domestic flight is delayed three hours and if an international flight is delayed six hours. Airlines will be required to display easy-to-find refund request buttons on their websites.
• Fee-Free Family Seating: The legislation prohibits airlines from charging fees for families to sit together. Working families shouldn't have to be burdened by fees just so their young child isn't seated next to a stranger.
• Reimbursement for Incurred Costs: Airlines must establish policies regarding reimbursement for lodging, transportation between lodging and the airport, and meal costs incurred due to a flight cancellation or significant delay directly attributable to the air carrier.

The bill will also expand air travel service to more of America, maintain and upgrade airports, and invest in the modernization of American aviation.

Growing and Supporting Aviation Workers

• Addresses Air Traffic Controller (ATC) Shortages: With a shortage of approximately 3,000 air traffic controllers nationwide, the bill requires that FAA implement improved staffing standards and set maximum hiring targets to increase air traffic controller staffing. The bill will relieve shortages of air traffic controllers around the state - including at the Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center, which keeps every plane flying over Ohio and the entire Midwest safe.

• Streamlines Job Pathways for Veterans: The legislation streamlines the transition for military servicemembers to civil aviation maintenance careers by requiring the creation of a new military mechanic competency test, and increases FAA outreach and engagement on pathways to attain civilian mechanic certs.

• Grows Veteran Pilot Pool: The legislation establishes a competitive grant program at the Department of Transportation to enable eligible flight training schools to recruit and train veterans, who are not already military aviators, to become commercial pilots and certified flight instructors. By covering costs beyond existing veteran education benefits, the measure will help grow the supply of qualified pilots to provide air service to rural communities.

Expanding Air Travel Service to More of America and Upgrading Airports

• Rebuilds Airports, Terminals and Runways: The bill boosts Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding from $3.35 billion per-year to $4.0 billion per-year to continue modernizing airport infrastructure as outlined in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Modernizing the National Airspace System and Leading Global Aviation Innovation

• Supports Avenues to Safety Certification of Air Taxis like Joby: The bill supports pathways and additional certainty needed for the safety certification of advanced air mobility powered-lift aircraft, or "air taxis," capable of vertical take-off and landing.

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