Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) voted for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024, bipartisan, bicameral legislation to extend the FAA’s funding and authorities for the next five years. The FAA Reauthorization will help maintain American leadership in aviation safety and aerospace innovation, strengthen and diversify the U.S. aviation workforce, improve critical infrastructure at airports like Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), make historic investments in sustainability and resiliency, and improve consumer protections and accessibility for air passengers in North Carolina and nationwide.
“Today, the House put partisan differences aside and overwhelmingly voted for the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization, underscoring the critical importance of ensuring America’s aviation system is safe and efficient for years to come,” said Congresswoman Ross. “This crucial legislation will bolster safety and improve the passenger experience for North Carolina air travelers, modernize infrastructure at airports like RDU, and help promote American global leadership in aviation and innovation. After nearly a year-long holdup, I’m grateful Congress was finally able to get this over the finish line and look forward to President Biden signing this bill into law to support travelers in North Carolina and nationwide.”
Specifically, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 will:
- Enhance safety and prevent runway incursions by expanding ground surveillance and detection equipment at large and medium hub airports to better inform air traffic controllers of potential dangers;
- Expand consumer protections by requiring airlines to refund passengers with nonrefundable flights when their flight is cancelled, significantly delayed, or changed if they choose not to fly on the delayed or changed flight;
- Increase accessibility for passengers by directing the Department of Transportation to improve airline personnel and contractor training standards on assisting passengers with disabilities;
- Strengthen our talent pipeline of pilots, aviation maintenance technical workers, and aviation manufacturing workers and direct the FAA to hire the maximum number of air traffic controllers; and
- Promote environmental sustainability and resilience by requiring the FAA to develop a plan to ensure general aviation aircraft can transition away from unleaded fuels by 2030 and establishing a $350 million reimbursement program for airport sponsors to replace PFAS foam and equipment.