[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 125 (Thursday, July 20, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E703]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





     SECURING GROWTH AND ROBUST LEADERSHIP IN AMERICAN AVIATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. MIKE JOHNSON

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 19, 2023

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3935) to 
     amend title 49, United States Code, to reauthorize and 
     improve the Federal Aviation Administration and other civil 
     aviation programs, and for other purposes:

  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. I wish to include in the Record the 
following letter from the National Football League, Major League 
Baseball, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, and the 
National Collegiate Athletic Association expressing opposition to 
Section 813 of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act.
                                                    July 18, 2023.
       Dear Members of Congress: We write to urge you to oppose 
     the weakening of a law that protects the millions of sports 
     fans and spectators who attend professional and collegiate 
     spotting events each year. The current statutory ban on 
     aircraft--including unmanned aircraft systems (``UAS'') or 
     drones--flying over large stadium sporting events throughout 
     the country provides necessary safety and security 
     protections against real and potential threats.
       We are deeply concerned about section 813 of the House 
     version of the Federal Aviation Administration (``FAA'') 
     Reauthorization Act. If adopted, the language would establish 
     a broad and complex waiver program that would permit 
     countless aircraft to fly near and over stadiums during 
     games, putting millions of fans at risk, and unnecessarily 
     so. Congress wisely eliminated a similar waiver program back 
     in 2003, after discovering troubling and persistent failures, 
     gaps, and vulnerabilities in the process for conducting 
     background checks and issuing waivers.
       The FAA first established flight restrictions over large 
     stadium sporting events immediately following the terrorist 
     attacks of September 11, 2001, in response to concerns about 
     terrorists using aircraft as weapons. Congress subsequently 
     twice codified and strengthened these restrictions, providing 
     specific criteria for aircraft operations permitted within 
     the flight restricted area. Section 813 would effectively 
     eliminate the specific criteria and replace it with an open-
     ended waiver program.
       The long-standing, congressionally mandated flight 
     restriction enhances the safety and security of large stadium 
     events, while minimizing the disruption to the National 
     Airspace System (''NAS''). Specifically, airspace over large 
     stadiums--with a seating capacity of 30,000 people or more 
     and where a NFL, MLB, and NCAA Division 1 football games or 
     major motor speedway events, such as NASCAR and INDYCAR 
     races, are taking place--is closed to all aircraft from one 
     hour before until one hour after a major sporting event. The 
     flight restrictions extend to three nautical miles from the 
     center of the stadium and from the surface to 3,000 feet 
     above the stadium. The flight restrictions do not apply to 
     authorized aircraft, such as Department of Defense, law 
     enforcement or air ambulance flight operations, or those in 
     contact with air traffic control for take offs and landings 
     at nearby airports, among others.
       Having devoted substantial resources to secure our stadiums 
     on the ground, we regard the stadium flight restriction as 
     essential to safeguarding the airspace overhead. Moreover, 
     given the proliferation of UAS in our NAS, as well as the 
     continuing need to remain vigilant to other current and 
     emerging risks, the stadium flight restriction is as vital 
     now as ever to our national security and public safety. We 
     believe section 813 complicates the airspace over stadiums, 
     compromises public safety and security, and courts potential 
     disaster.
       We, therefore, urge you to uphold current law and maintain 
     existing flight restrictions that protect the safety and 
     security of millions of fans who attend large stadium 
     sporting events every year.
           Sincerely,
     Cathy Lanier,
       Chief Security Officer, National Football League.
     David Thomas,
       Vice President, Security and Ballpark Operations, Major 
     League Baseball.
     Bill Rhodes,
       Managing Director, Security, National Association for Stock 
     Car Auto Racing.
     Dan Gavitt,
       Senior Vice President, National Collegiate Athletic 
     Association.

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