Because the Senate reconvenes January 8, 2024 after the vacation break, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), the Rating Member of the Aviation Subcommittee, is urging his colleagues to swiftly pass the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill. The House has already passed its version of the bill, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act, by a 351-69 vote last July. Since then, Congress has prolonged the Bill twice: once until the tip of December, and a second extension which might fund the agency until March.
In a recent statement, Congressman Cohen emphasized the importance of the bill for the security of the flying public, the diversification of the aviation workforce, consumer protections, and the advancement of American leadership in aerospace innovation. He expressed concern over the delay within the Senate, citing quite a few near-miss incidents at U.S. airports and the negative impact of temporary FAA authority extensions.
The FAA reauthorization bill is especially significant for the drone industry. In line with a recent article on DRONELIFE.com, the present package requires the FAA to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flight inside 4 months of the bill’s enactment. The bill also provides stable funding for programs, enabling the agency to allocate resources appropriately to the mandated priorities.
Congressman Cohen concluded his statement by saying, “We now have had too many near-miss incidents at U.S. airports to delay our work any longer. It’s all too clear that the security of flying is on people’s minds today, and it’s long gone time for the Senate to act.” Because the Senate reconvenes today, the longer term of U.S. aviation and the drone industry hangs within the balance. The swift passage of the FAA reauthorization bill is crucial for the continued growth and innovation in these sectors.