With Capito Support, Senate Passes FAA Reauthorization Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Tonight, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, voted in support of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2024. This legislation, which passed the Senate 88-4, now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2024 reauthorizes Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs through September 2028 that invest in airport infrastructure, promote safety and American leadership in aviation, and strengthen consumer service. Senator Capito successfully secured many provisions in the legislation that will benefit West Virginia. Details on Senator Capito's included priorities are below.

"After numerous conversations with stakeholders in West Virginia impacted by this legislation, I'm pleased that the Senate has reauthorized important FAA programs through September 2028 and worked to strengthen our air travel infrastructure. Included in this legislation are vital components, including priorities that I advocated for, that will benefit West Virginia airports and fliers, and address safety and maintenance concerns. By passing this bill tonight, the Senate has provided needed support for our airports and the vast workforce that performs their operations, which should bolster our aviation sector for the future. I encourage our colleagues in the House to assist in our efforts to expeditiously pass this legislation so the president can sign it into law," Senator Capito said.

PROVISIONS SENATOR CAPITO FOUGHT TO SECURE INCLUDE:

Safety Priorities:

• 25-hour cockpit voice and flight data recorder: This provision increases the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder length to 25 hours from 2 hours, which will make available needed information in assessing future accidents. While the FAA has moved towards making this a requirement for new aircraft, this provision would make it mandatory for all aircraft.

• A Remote cockpit voice and flight data recorder: This provision that I partnered with Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) ensures that aircraft that fly extended overwater routes have the ability to transmit data to the cloud, so that if an aircraft is lost at sea authorities will still have the data needed from it.

• Global Aviation Maintenance Safety Improvement Act: Legislation Senator Capito introduced to level the playing field for foreign repair stations and hold them to the same standard as American-based counterparts in terms of drug testing and security protocols.

• An encouragement that an opioid overdose reversal medication be included in onboard Emergency Medical Kits on commercial aircraft.

• Protection of voluntary safety data: This provision ensures that important safety data that is shared with FAA is not subjected to civil litigation.

• Use of advanced tools and high-risk flight testing in certifying aerospace products: This provision puts American safety standards on par with Europe, specifically regarding general aviation manufacturing.

• Fire protection standards: A safety provision that will boost standards by investigating differences from U.S. safety standards compared to foreign standards and making recommendations to Congress.

Airport Benefits:

• 95% federal share for airport projects: This provision increases the federal cost share for airport improvement projects to 95%, and will further support improvements to West Virginia airports.

• Advanced digital construction software included under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP): This provision makes advanced digital construction software allowable under the AIP. This type of technology will save airports time and money when planning new projects.

Workforce Benefits:

• Aviation Workforce Development and Recruitment Act: Legislation that Senator Capito helped to introduce that will grow the aviation workforce by making educational requirements more attainable.

• Improvements to pilot medical certificate issuances at FAA: This provision provides greater accountability for pilots waiting for their medical issuances through the FAA. It will assemble a working group of experts to improve the current system and specifically look at ways to improve medical requirements and make the FAA accountable for unnecessary delays that keep our healthy pilots out of the skies. The group will work to establish an online database for pilots to submit this information.

Other Critical Priorities:

• Transplant organs to be allowed to be transported in the aircraft cabin: This provision allows transplant organs to be transported in the aircraft cabin, rather than being flown in the cargo hold. This will ensure that these organs are treated with the upmost care as they are in transit to save lives.

• Airline weather resiliency GAO report bill: Legislation that Senator Capito authored to commission a report on airline's capacity to prepare for and respond to extreme weather events and natural disasters.

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