[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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