House of Representatives Passes the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024
Bill includes many of Rep. Hageman’s amendments and priorities
Washington, DC – Today, the House of Representatives passed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024, which sets forth the agency’s appropriations, activities and programs, and other key components of the United States’ National Airspace System. Among other priorities, the bill, which now heads to the White House to be signed into law, increases Congressional oversight of the FAA and National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB), directs new efforts to increase safety on commercial aircraft, reforms the Essential Air Service (EAS) Program that provides air service to rural communities, and addresses the shortage of pilots and air traffic controllers through various programs.
In addition, the reauthorization bill includes multiple amendments and language requests submitted by Rep. Hageman, including provisions to reduce acquisition and maintenance costs of airport equipment and technology, train new “non-Federal weather observers” to provide critical weather reports to pilots operating near airports, and address rural workforce shortages. Finally, the bill includes a section that accomplishes the goal of Rep. Hageman’s Backcountry Aviation Protection Act to protect pilots conducting off-airport operations from FAA enforcement action.
“The FAA Reauthorization Act provides multiple wins for Wyoming, the West, and the conservative movement,” said Rep. Hageman. “Our state and nation are better because of the many successes House Republicans secured in its final text. The Essential Air Service will continue to connect Wyoming’s rural towns to the rest of the nation, new efforts are created to recruit more air traffic controllers and pilots of civilian and military backgrounds, and multiple provisions will increase the West’s ability to fight wildfires from the air. In total, this is a good bill that moves our country forward. I’m proud to have multiple of my priorities included in this bill and to have voted in favor of its passage.”
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Contact: Chris Berardi, Sr. Advisor/Communications Director