The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure recently advanced five amendments. The amendments are to bills that address military air traffic controllers transitioning into Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) careers, drone impacts on wildfire suppression efforts, the digitization of pilot certificates, rural broadband access, and protections for U.S.-owned properties in other countries.
Legislation includes:
The Military Air Traffic Control Transition Act, H.R. 6744, helps experienced military air traffic controllers more easily transition into civilian roles at the FAA and is intended to address the ongoing air traffic controller shortage. The Joint Aviation Employment Training Working Group, established under the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, would be required to focus specifically on air traffic control career opportunities for military personnel and to identify barriers that slow the transition of these personnel into the FAA’s work force. U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen (D-NY) introduced the bill and Rep. Tracey Mann (R-KS) cosponsored.
The Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act, H.R. 6618, directs the FAA to conduct a study and report on how unmanned aircraft system (UAS) incursions impact wildfire suppression efforts. U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum (D-OR) introduced the bill, and U.S. Reps. Elijah Crane (R-AZ), Joe Neguse (D-CO) and Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) cosponsored.
The Pilot Certificate Accessibility Act, H.R. 2247, builds on the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 requirements for the agency to digitize and modernize its processes by allowing pilots and other FAA certificate holders to present digital certificates instead of physical ones. U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) introduced the bill and Rep. Tracey Mann (R-KS) cosponsored.
The Defending American Property Abroad Act, H.R. 7084, protects U.S.-owned infrastructure assets in foreign countries by authorizing the president to deny port entry to vessels that have also called at ports or terminals that were expropriated or nationalized from U.S. persons by governments in Western Hemisphere countries with U.S. free trade agreements.
“I appreciate the committee members who spearheaded these efforts, including Congressmen Mann, Burchett, and Taylor, for their leadership on these issues and their work to modernize FAA processes for pilots and pursue innovative solutions to expand broadband access and economic opportunity in rural Appalachian communities,” Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO), Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman, said.
U.S. Rep. Dave Taylor (R-OH) introduced the Expanding Appalachia’s Broadband Access Act, H.R. 2474, which directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study whether satellite broadband can be effectively incorporated into broadband projects supported by the Appalachian Regional Commission.