[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 79 (Tuesday, May 7, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3499-S3500]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MORNING BUSINESS
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FAA REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2024
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, the Senate has begun a crucial task:
consideration of a bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation
Administration. The FAA's authorization expired on September 30, and
Congress has since passed three short-term extensions--the latest of
which will expire on May 10.
For weeks, the House and Senate have been engaged in negotiations to
work through differences in the long-term extension bill. Last week,
negotiators released a compromise bill. Here in the Senate, my
colleague Senator Duckworth had an important role in authoring the
bill. She is a former Blackhawk helicopter pilot and an Iraq War
veteran. I can think of no better person to lead this effort than her.
The compromise bill addresses several pressing issues for our
national aviation system.
One priority I advocated for, which was included, is increased
funding for the Airport Improvement Program. This program provides
grants to airports for planning and development projects, through both
entitlement and competitive awards.
More than 80 airports in Illinois receive funding through this
program, and the awards have had a significant effect on enhancing the
safety and efficiency of our State's airports. Just last spring, Quincy
Regional Airport was awarded a $14 million competitive AIP grant for
its runway reconstruction project. I was pleased to see that the bill
will increase annual AIP funding from $3.3 billion to $4 billion.
I also supported the inclusion of a new grant program to help
airports dispose of and replace a type of harmful
[[Page S3500]]
``forever chemicals,'' called PFAS, found in firefighting foam.
Exposure to these chemicals has been linked to cancer and other serious
health effects--and now, efforts to combat exposure at airports
thankfully will have a dedicated funding stream.
Another crucial issue the bill addresses is the air traffic
controller shortage. My office has heard from air traffic controllers
in Illinois whose towers have long been understaffed. Air traffic
controllers work 10-hour days up to 6 days per week, in one of the most
stressful and exhausting jobs in America. Their work is critical to the
safety of our national aviation system--and we owe it to them to
provide relief and better working conditions. As a member of the Senate
Appropriations Committee, I am glad our fiscal year 2024 transportation
appropriations bill increased FAA funding to hire 1,800 new controllers
and improve training facilities.
This FAA reauthorization bill builds upon this by requiring the FAA
to improve staffing standards and set maximum hiring targets. I
advocated for a provision in the Senate FAA bill that would have
established another FAA training academy. Unfortunately, this was not
included. But the bill directs the FAA to develop a plan to expand its
training capacity and submit it to the Commerce Committee. I hope we
continue this discussion.
As commercial travel has returned to pre-pandemic levels, the
aviation industry has sounded alarms that the demand for aviation
professionals may soon exceed supply. That is why another priority of
mine has been to expand funding for Aviation Workforce Development
grants. The bill authorizes $60 million annually to invest in three
grant programs to recruit and prepare aviation professionals and
pilots. In Illinois, the aviation industry is an economic engine,
generating more than $95 billion in economic activity across 500,000
jobs. We need to continue our investments in its future leaders.
My other priorities have been focused on consumer protections. In
October, I wrote to Secretary Buttigieg and Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau Director Chopra about troubling reports that airlines
are engaging in unfair, abusive, and deceptive practices related to
their loyalty programs. I worry that airlines are making it harder to
redeem rewards.
I supported a provision, secured by my colleague Senator Markey of
Massachusetts, in the Senate FAA bill that would have required airline
frequent flyer programs to provide at least 90 days' notice before
reducing or devaluing rewards. This was not included in the final bill;
however, Senator Markey and I are introducing an amendment that would
restore this provision. The bill does include some other consumer
protections, including the creation of create Senate-confirmed
Assistant Secretary position at the Department of Transportation's
Office of Aviation Consumer Protection.
I have also been focused on ensuring Illinois communities have
adequate air service. I have heard from constituents in my hometown of
Springfield that the current flights to and from Chicago offered by
American Airlines do not reflect demand. The Abraham Lincoln Capital
Airport in Springfield is neither a hub airport nor an Essential Air
Service community. This places it in a gray area for Federal resources
to ensure air service.
I requested language that would have directed DOT, in coordination
with the FAA, to study ways to improve existing Federal programs--and
explore new ones--to help communities like this retain sufficient
flight service and schedules that reflect demand. This was not included
in the final bill, but I have introduced an amendment with Senator
Grassley to add this study to the bill.
I am also pleased to see the FAA bill would allow DOT to impose
penalties for Essential Air Service providers that try to terminate or
reduce service to these communities.
I will continue advocating for these priorities throughout the Senate
process. And I urge my colleagues to swiftly pass the FAA
reauthorization bill to prevent a lapse in resources for our aviation
system, those who operate it, and all who fly.
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