AAAE Staff

After a long day of debate, the House Appropriations Committee approved on a party-line vote its version of the annual funding bill for the programs and operations of the DOT and FAA for the next fiscal year (2025), which begins on October 1.

Former U.S. Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) passed away yesterday. Inhofe, a pilot and Army veteran, was a strong advocate for general aviation, airports in Oklahoma and around the country, and the entire aviation industry.

The Senate last night overwhelmingly approved a multi-year FAA reauthorization bill and after a brief hiccup cleared a measure to extend aviation programs and excise taxes through May 17.

After Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) used procedural maneuvers to turn back a long list of amendments including one that would have restricted TSA from using facial recognition technology at security checkpoints, the Senate by a vote of 88 to 4 just passed a multi-year FAA reauthorization bill.

While the Senate continues to make progress on a multi-year FAA reauthorization bill, the House of Representatives on May 8, cleared a bill to extend aviation programs and excise taxes through May 17.

During a hearing on May 2, where lawmakers focused on transportation safety, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg discussed the administration’s response to the recent bridge collapse in Baltimore and its plan to add 2,000 more air traffic controllers.

After months of delay, House and Senate transportation committee leaders early this morning unveiled a bipartisan and bicameral FAA reauthorization bill that would increase AIP funding to $4 billion annually, authorize $350 million to help airports transition to fluorine-free firefighting foam, and usher in a long list of policy changes to help airports of all sizes.

If you haven’t already done so, please contact your representative today and ask your lawmaker to cosign a bipartisan letter requesting funding for the FAA Contract Tower Program in the Fiscal Year 2025 appropriation process.

This is a reminder to please complete the USCTA survey on controller staffing that we sent out earlier this month.

This is a reminder to reach out to your lawmakers and ask them to sign letters requesting full funding for the FAA Contract Tower Program in the Fiscal Year 2025 appropriation process.