2024: Fitzpatrick Voted For The 2024 FAA Reauthorization That Required
Airlines To Issue Refunds For Delayed And Canceled Flights And Added 10
Flight Slot Exemptions For The Ronald Reagan Washington National
Airport. In May 2024, Fitzpatrick voted for , according to
Congressional Quarterly, the "motion to suspend the rules and concur in
the Senate amendment to the FAA reauthorization bill (HR 3935), that
would reauthorize federal aviation programs for five years through
fiscal 2028. The bill would authorize more than $105 billion for the
Federal Aviation Administration, including $66.7 billion for FAA
operations; $19.35 billion for airport planning and development; $17.8
billion for facilities and equipment; and $1.6 billion for civil
aviation research and development. It would require domestic and foreign
airlines to grant refunds when the airline cancels or delays a flight by
three or more hours for domestic flights or six or more hours for
international flights and make refund requests easily available on the
carrier's website. It also would require domestic and foreign airlines
to update passenger notification systems to ensure passengers are
notified of their right to a refund. It also would establish
requirements for the Enhanced Qualification Program for air carriers who
are certified to provide enhanced training for pilots seeking to obtain
restricted airline transport certificates. It also would require the
Transportation Department, within 60 days of the bill's enactment, to
add 10 flight slot exemptions --- allowing five new round-trip flights
through Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. It would prohibit the
operation of aircraft manufactured one year after the bill's enactment
unless it has a voice recorder that retains the last 25 hours of
recorded information. The bill also would require, within six years of
its enactment, all aircraft in use to be equipped with a voice recorder
that retains the last 25 hours of recorded information." The vote was on
the motion to concur in the Senate amendments. The House concurred by a
vote of 387 to 26, thus, it was sent to President Biden who signed it
into law. [House Vote 200,
5/15/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 5/15/24;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
3935]
The Bill Increased Funding For The Airport Improvement Program To
$4 Billion From $3.4 Billion In The Past 10 Years. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "[The bill] would also boost
authorizations for the Airport Improvement Program, which funds new
infrastructure, to $4 billion a year, the first increase for a
program that's been set at $3.4 billion annually for the past 10
years." [Congressional Quarterly,
5/15/24]
The Bill Included Various Provisions To Address Workforce
Shortages. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The measure
would require the FAA to make its hiring target for air traffic
controllers equal to the maximum number of trainees that can be
taught at the FAA Academy. The number of air traffic controllers has
severely declined in the past decade or so, a shortage that Congress
has linked to a number of close-call airplane collisions. Aviation
and engineering unions have applauded other workforce language in
the bill, including provisions that would require the FAA to update
its aviation safety inspector model to boost hiring of safety
inspectors and other specialists. The bill would also expand the
Aviation Workforce Development Grant Program to include hiring and
training of the aviation manufacturing workforce." [Congressional
Quarterly, 5/15/24]
The Bill Expanded The Use Of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Like Drones
For Inspection, Operations, And Construction Purposes as Well As In
The Response To Wildfires. According to Congressional Quarterly,
"To promote the adoption of unmanned aircraft systems like drones
into the national airspace, the bill would expand use of
beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations and establish a program to
provide grants to support the use of small UAS for more efficient
inspection, operations and construction of infrastructure. It also
would require the FAA to collaborate with agencies to create a plan
to use UAS in wildfire response efforts." [Congressional Quarterly,
5/15/24]
2024: Fitzpatrick Voted To Extend The FAA Authorization For A Week
Until The House Could Vote On The Senate-Passed Five Year
Reauthorization. In May 2024, Fitzpatrick voted for , according to
Congressional Quarterly, the "motion to suspend the rules and pass the
bill that would extend through May 17, 2024 the authorization of Federal
Aviation Administration programs. It would extend the authorization of
approximately $2.1 billion for the Airport Improvement Program and
approximately $335 million in supplemental discretionary funds for use
through that date. It also would extend a number of expiring authorities
for FAA programs, including Homeland Security Department authorities to
counter unmanned aircraft systems and the date on which the
Transportation Department can propose regulations for commercial space
flight. It would extend through May 17, 2024 aviation related excise
taxes used to fund the Airport and Airway Trust Fund and the authority
to spend amounts in the fund through May 18, 2024." The vote was on
passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 385 to 24. [House Vote
187, 5/8/24;
Congressional Quarterly,
5/8/24; Congressional Actions,
H.R.
8289]