Graves sponsors bipartisan bill reforming, reauthorizing FAA

U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) on June 9 led fellow members of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to propose a bipartisan bill that would reauthorize and reform the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the next five years. The FAA’s current authorization expires in September.

“For over a century, the United States has led the world in aviation safety and innovation, but our ‘Gold Standard’ status is being threatened by increasing global competition, rapid developments in technology, a shortage of aviation professionals, and FAA’s own inefficiency,” said Rep. Graves, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.  

The Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act, H.R. 3935, would revamp the FAA’s organizational structure, expand pilot privileges and protections, enhance general aviation safety, address airport infrastructure needs and passenger facility charges, streamline FAA services, and extend and improve aviation workforce development programs, according to the text of the bill.

Rep. Graves sponsored H.R. 3935 alongside three original cosponsors, including U.S. Reps. Garret Graves (R-LA) and Rick Larsen (D-WA), the ranking member of the committee.

“Our bipartisan legislation will improve critical infrastructure for airports of all sizes, streamline the FAA bureaucracy, strengthen the nation’s general aviation sector, encourage the more rapid deployment of safe technological innovations, and address workforce challenges throughout the aviation system,” Rep. Sam Graves said. “Not only does this legislation provide long-term stability and funding for the FAA, it also authorizes the important safety work of the National Transportation Safety Board.”

Among numerous provisions, for example, H.R. 3935 would make targeted changes to the organizational structure of the FAA to improve overall efficiency of the agency, allow for innovation, and streamline the regulatory process, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.

Additionally, H.R. 3935 would address workforce challenges by removing barriers to pursuing aviation careers, expanding the aviation workforce pipeline, and improving training standards, among others, the summary says.

At the same time, Rep. Garret Graves said that the global aviation industry was born in America and H.R. 3935 helps ensure that it stays stateside.

“Our innovators continue to lead on aviation technology and convenience,” he said. “The aviation legislation also helps to improve the customer experience for commercial passengers and will help to bring new technology for safer and more efficient management of our skies.”