The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill Wednesday that reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the next five years.
HR 3935The bill was passed by a majority of 351 to 69, with the backing of Republican Missouri Rep. Sam Graves, chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, according to the House clerk. summary.
Reportedly, the bill would provide the FAA with about $103 billion over the next five years while it deals with returning passengers. Politico.
The bill would address refunds and reimbursement issues, provide funding to modernize airport infrastructure, hire more air traffic controllers and increase protections for passengers with disabilities, the bill says.
“This bipartisan bill will improve our systems, the safety of our airport infrastructure and the quality of service to our passengers,” Graves said in a statement. statement. “More than that, this bill would increase the efficiency of the FAA, facilitate the safe introduction of new and innovative technologies, and address a growing workforce shortage, from pilots and mechanics to air traffic controllers.”
Graves is also a general aviation pilot, according to the report. kansas city star.
Despite the overwhelming majority, the final passage of the bill did not go smoothly.
One of these measures included an amendment by Republican Utah Rep. Burgess Owens to allow seven round-trip “in-boundary and out-of-boundary slots” between the Arlington-based airport and airlines serving Republican cloakrooms at one of Washington, D.C.’s airports, Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA). report.
The amendment split lawmakers based on geographic location rather than political ideology, according to the report. The Hill.
The House of Representatives rejected the amendment by a vote of 229 to 205, according to a report from the Republican Cloakroom.
Gabriella Hoffman is a policy analyst and Young Voices regional leader from Northern Virginia, DC Journal Speaking on the issue, he told The Daily Caller that he was disappointed that the House had rejected the bill.
“As a frequent DCA user, I am disappointed to see the House reject Rep. Burgess Owens’s compromise proposal to add seven long-haul flights to the FAA’s rational reauthorization reform, Reagan National’s outdated slot and fringe rules, to the existing rules,” she said.
He argued that the measure would reduce ticket prices and said Belt and Road visitors and residents would benefit from the measure. Hoffman told the Daily Caller that he hopes the action will be reconsidered, saying the DCA should not encourage “anti-competitive behavior that limits Delta and Southwest’s long-haul operations while favoring United and American Airlines.”
The Daily Caller reached out to Rep. Owens’ office, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
