FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024

Bill: 118-s-1939
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
Introduced: 2023-06-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Accidents
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advanced technology and technological innovations
Advisory bodies
Alaska
Arizona
Atmospheric science and weather
Aviation and airports
Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
Civil actions and liability
Competition and antitrust
Computer security and identity theft
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Consumer affairs
Department of Transportation
Disability and health-based discrimination
Disability assistance
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employee benefits and pensions
Employee performance
Employment and training programs
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Executive agency funding and structure
Fires
First responders and emergency personnel
Forests, forestry, trees
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Health information and medical records
Infrastructure development
Intergovernmental relations
Land transfers
Licensing and registrations
Motor fuels
Noise pollution
Organ and tissue donation and transplantation
Performance measurement
Product development and innovation
Public-private cooperation
Regional and metropolitan planning
Research and development
Roads and highways
Sales and excise taxes
Service animals
Service industries
State and local government operations
Technology assessment
Telephone and wireless communication
Transportation employees
Transportation safety and security
Travel and tourism
User charges and fees
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2023-06-13
text: 

FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023

 
This bill reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through FY2028, including activities and programs related to airport planning and development, facilities and equipment, and operations. 
 
The bill also addresses a wide range of issues, including by 
 
 
expanding air traffic controller training capacity and requiring the FAA to update the training process for air traffic controllers and the FAA Contract Tower Program; 
 
prohibiting aircraft dispatchers from working remotely, with limited exceptions for emergencies;
 
requiring the FAA to operationalize key programs under the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) by December 31, 2025;
 
requiring air carriers to provide a full refund, upon request, to passengers who hold a nonrefundable ticket for a cancelled or significantly delayed flight; 
 
requiring the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a policy directing certain air carriers to seat a young child next to an accompanying adult if adjacent seats are available without charging an additional fee;
 
requiring DOT to issue rules on minimum training standards for airline personnel who assist wheelchair users; 
 
requiring air carriers to publish information related to the stowage of powered wheelchairs, including cargo hold dimensions; 
 
establishing a new DOT grant program for airports to dispose of products that contain per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), such as certain firefighting equipment, and purchase fluorine-free firefighting alternatives;
 
requiring the FAA to update safety standards for commercial air tour operators (i.e., sightseeing airplane and helicopter flights); and
 
requiring the FAA to establish a regulatory pathway for the certification or approval of commercial unmanned aircraft (i.e., drones) to operate beyond the visual line of sight.
 

action_date: 2024-02-29
text: 

FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024
 
 
This bill reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through FY2028, including activities and programs related to airport planning and development, facilities and equipment, and operations. The National Transportation Safety Board is also reauthorized through FY2028. 
 
The bill also addresses a wide range of issues, including by 
 
 
 expanding air traffic controller training capacity and requiring the FAA to update the training process for air traffic controllers and the FAA Contract Tower Program; 
 
 requiring the FAA to operationalize key programs under the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) by December 31, 2025; 
 
 requiring air carriers to provide a full refund, upon request, to passengers who hold a nonrefundable ticket for a cancelled or significantly delayed flight; 
 
 requiring the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish a policy directing certain air carriers to seat a young child next to an accompanying adult if adjacent seats are available without charging an additional fee; 
 
 requiring DOT to issue rules on minimum training standards for airline personnel who assist wheelchair users;
 
increasing the number of daily round-trip flights allowed at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA); 
 
 establishing a new DOT grant program for airports to dispose of products that contain per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), such as certain firefighting equipment, and purchase fluorine-free firefighting alternatives; 
 
 requiring the FAA to update safety standards for commercial air tour operators; and 
 
 requiring the FAA to establish a regulatory pathway for the certification or approval of commercial unmanned aircraft (i.e., drones) to operate beyond the visual line of sight. 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2024-02-29
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 335.
action_date: 2024-02-29
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2024-02-29
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2024-02-08
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2023-06-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2023-06-13
text: Introduced in Senate