[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 24, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H2660-H2661]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  AIRMEN CERTIFICATE ACCESSIBILITY ACT

  Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2247) to amend title 49, United States Code, to authorize 
the use of physical or digital copies of certain certificates for 
certain Federal Aviation Administration inspections, and for other 
purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2247

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Airmen Certificate 
     Accessibility Act''.

     SEC. 2. ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF CERTIFICATION.

       (a) In General.--Section 44703 of title 49, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(m) Sufficiency of Digital and Physical Airman 
     Certificates.--An individual issued a certificate pursuant to 
     this section (including a medical certificate) may present 
     such certificate to an inspector of the Federal Aviation 
     Administration in any of the following formats:
       ``(1) A physical certificate issued by the Administrator 
     (or his or her designee).
       ``(2) A digital certificate issued by the Administrator 
     that is stored on an electronic device or, in areas where 
     there is sufficient connectivity to do so, a cloud-based 
     system, and presented in accordance with authentication and 
     verification requirements established by the 
     Administrator.''.
       (b) Rulemaking.--Not later than November 30, 2028, the 
     Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall 
     issue a final rule to update regulations in parts 61, 63, 65, 
     67, and 107 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, to 
     implement the amendments made by this section, and any 
     applicable guidance and policies.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Taylor) and the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Figures) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
insert extraneous material into the Record on H.R. 2247.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 2247, the Airmen Certificate Accessibility Act, 
is commonsense legislation that would bring the Federal Aviation 
Administration into the digital age.
  In today's digital age, it is past time for the FAA to join the 21st 
century and allow digital options for airmen certificates. I am 
supportive of any initiative that safely lowers barriers and ultimately 
allows more Americans to exercise their freedom to fly. Allowing pilots 
the option to carry digital copies of their certifications in lieu of 
paper copies accomplishes that.
  The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 directed the agency to 
holistically review and digitize processes. The Airmen Certificate 
Accessibility Act builds upon those efforts and represents an 
incremental step toward digitization that benefits all users.
  Madam Speaker, I urge support of this legislation and reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. FIGURES. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.

[[Page H2661]]

  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2247, the Airmen Certificate 
Accessibility Act, as amended.
  Current law requires airmen to carry physical versions of their pilot 
license in case a representative of the FAA ever needs to verify the 
airman's status. This is despite other important paper documents pilots 
are required to carry, such as their flight bags or flight books, now 
being allowed to be carried in a digitized form.
  The option for airmen to now carry their certificate in a readily 
accessible digital format is a priority for the aviation community. We 
have heard them on this issue.
  H.R. 2247, as amended, combines the necessary safeguards to provide 
the option for a digital airmen certificate that is issued by the FAA 
so long as that certificate can be authenticated and verified by an 
inspector.
  This digital certificate may be uploaded to a device on the airman's 
person or, if in the presence of a stable internet connection, be 
stored and accessed through the cloud.
  This bill would direct the FAA into rulemaking to ensure these 
digital certificates are just as secure as their physical originals and 
establish guidelines for their authentication and verification. By 
allowing airmen to use a digital certificate in this way, we will 
continue our efforts to safely and securely modernize the FAA.
  Madam Speaker, I support this legislation. I thank the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Burchett) for his leadership here, and I urge my 
colleagues to support this, as well. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Burchett), the author of this legislation.
  Mr. BURCHETT. Madam Speaker, dadgum, if I need 5 minutes, pull me off 
on this one, okay?
  First and foremost, I express my deepest sympathies to those good 
folks who lost their lives at LaGuardia Airport in New York, and I hope 
we all remember them and their families in our prayers.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 2247, the Airmen Certificate 
Accessibility Act. I guess it should be air people technically. My mama 
flew an airplane during the Second World War, so I would be remiss if I 
didn't say that.
  Pilots are still required to carry paper copies of their original 
medical certificates and licenses. The FAA says that this requirement 
exists mainly because of concerns about forgery, but the FAA already 
keeps secure electronic records of these certificates.

                              {time}  1700

  The Airmen Certificate Accessibility Act would allow pilots to 
present digital certificates issued by the FAA administrator during 
inspections.
  Now, dadgummit, Madam Speaker, it is ridiculous that Congress has to 
digitize pilot documentation because unelected bureaucrats decided to 
invent some unnecessary rules. To me, we shouldn't have to be on the 
floor of the Congress to do that, but this bill would allow airmen to 
continue to present physical certificates if they choose, providing 
flexibility while ensuring security and compliance.
  The aviation sector remains burdened by outdated practices in an era 
of rapid technological advancement.
  This commonsense legislation helps modernize the industry, enhances 
convenience for airmen, and aligns FAA procedures with 21st century 
standards.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important piece 
of legislation. I will also thank Noah Hooton in my office who did all 
of the heavy lifting on that. I appreciate the support from across the 
aisle.
  Mr. FIGURES. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I agree with my colleague from Tennessee. This should 
not take an act of Congress to do, but nevertheless, we are here and we 
have to do it.
  I appreciate his work on this issue in making sure that we can 
balance a long-asked-for convenience to our pilots with the necessary 
safeguards. That is why I support H.R. 2247, as amended, and urge my 
colleagues to do the same.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Madam Speaker, in closing, I thank Representative Burchett again for 
his leadership in introducing this commonsense legislation.
  For decades, pilots have been required to carry physical copies of 
their certificates, even as aviation has entered the digital age. 
Allowing pilots the option to carry digital certificates is a simple, 
safe, and practical step that reduces unnecessary barriers and makes it 
easier to exercise the freedom to fly.
  This legislation represents a reasonable, incremental move toward 
fully digitized systems that benefit all users.
  Madam Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Taylor) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 2247, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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