Airport Alert: House Committee Approves National Aviation Preparedness Plan Act
July 20, 2022
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee met on July 20 to consider several pieces of legislation, including H.R. 884, the National Aviation Preparedness Plan Act, sponsored by Aviation Subcommittee Chair Rick Larsen (D-WA) and Representative Don Beyer (D-VA). During the markup, substitute text was unanimously adopted, and the bill was favorably reported out of committee by a vote of 58-2. It will now advance to the full House for consideration at some point in the future.
This legislation, originally introduced in the 116th Congress and supported by AAAE, requires Department of Transportation (DOT), in collaboration with the Departments of Health and Human Services and Homeland Security to develop a national aviation preparedness plan to tackle future communicable disease outbreaks, as first recommended by the Government Accountability Office in 2015 following the Ebola outbreak. The bill also directs DOT to work with the airports, air carriers, labor unions representing frontline at-risk workers, and other key aviation stakeholders on a plan to:
• provide airports and air carriers with an adaptable and scalable framework to align emergency response plans;
• create a process to identify appropriate personal protective equipment for aviation and Federal workers to reduce the likelihood of exposure;
• create a process to identify appropriate techniques, strategies, and protective infrastructure for the cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitization of aircraft and enclosed facilities;
• clearly delineate the responsibilities of sponsors and operators of airports, air carriers, and Federal agencies in responding to a communicable disease;
• and identify opportunities to develop and deploy emerging technologies and solutions to reduce communicable disease transmission.
During the markup, Representative Scott Perry (R-PA) introduced an amendment that would prohibit COVID-19 vaccine mandates for airline employees and FAA contractors. This amendment failed to pass by a vote of 21-36.
When the bill was originally introduced on February 5, 2021, AAAE expressed support noting that 'AAAE and airport executives thank Chairman Larsen and Representative Beyer for their leadership on coronavirus-related issues and for their efforts to enhance national aviation preparedness for communicable disease outbreaks. Better coordination within the Federal government and more effective consultation with airports, airlines and other stakeholders on a consistent planning framework will help make our nation's aviation system safer for passengers and workers alike.'
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee met on July 20 to consider several pieces of legislation, including H.R. 884, the National Aviation Preparedness Plan Act, sponsored by Aviation Subcommittee Chair Rick Larsen (D-WA) and Representative Don Beyer (D-VA). During the markup, substitute text was unanimously adopted, and the bill was favorably reported out of committee by a vote of 58-2. It will now advance to the full House for consideration at some point in the future.
This legislation, originally introduced in the 116th Congress and supported by AAAE, requires Department of Transportation (DOT), in collaboration with the Departments of Health and Human Services and Homeland Security to develop a national aviation preparedness plan to tackle future communicable disease outbreaks, as first recommended by the Government Accountability Office in 2015 following the Ebola outbreak. The bill also directs DOT to work with the airports, air carriers, labor unions representing frontline at-risk workers, and other key aviation stakeholders on a plan to:
• provide airports and air carriers with an adaptable and scalable framework to align emergency response plans;
• create a process to identify appropriate personal protective equipment for aviation and Federal workers to reduce the likelihood of exposure;
• create a process to identify appropriate techniques, strategies, and protective infrastructure for the cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitization of aircraft and enclosed facilities;
• clearly delineate the responsibilities of sponsors and operators of airports, air carriers, and Federal agencies in responding to a communicable disease;
• and identify opportunities to develop and deploy emerging technologies and solutions to reduce communicable disease transmission.
During the markup, Representative Scott Perry (R-PA) introduced an amendment that would prohibit COVID-19 vaccine mandates for airline employees and FAA contractors. This amendment failed to pass by a vote of 21-36.
When the bill was originally introduced on February 5, 2021, AAAE expressed support noting that 'AAAE and airport executives thank Chairman Larsen and Representative Beyer for their leadership on coronavirus-related issues and for their efforts to enhance national aviation preparedness for communicable disease outbreaks. Better coordination within the Federal government and more effective consultation with airports, airlines and other stakeholders on a consistent planning framework will help make our nation's aviation system safer for passengers and workers alike.'
