[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 24, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H2661-H2662]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 SUPERSONIC AVIATION MODERNIZATION ACT

  Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3410) to allow for the operation of civil supersonic flight 
in the national airspace system under certain conditions, and for other 
purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3410

       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 ``Supersonic Aviation 
     Modernization Act''.

     SEC. 2. ALLOWING FOR THE OPERATION OF CIVIL SUPERSONIC 
                   FLIGHT.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this section, the Administrator of the Federal 
     Aviation Administration shall issue or revise such 
     regulations, such as section 91.817 of part 14, Code of 
     Federal Regulations, as are necessary to allow for the 
     operation of civil aircraft (as defined in section 40102(16) 
     of title 49, United States Code) without special 
     authorization within the national airspace system at a Mach 
     number greater than 1 so long as the aircraft is operated in 
     such a manner that no sonic boom reaches the ground in the 
     United States.
       (b) Compliance With Noise Standards.--Not later than April 
     1, 2027, the Administrator shall issue a final rule 
     establishing noise standards under part 36 of title 14, Code 
     of Federal Regulations, requiring civil aircraft granted 
     authority to operate pursuant to subsection (a) not to exceed 
     the most recent takeoff and landing noise levels required for 
     subsonic aircraft currently in operation on the date of 
     enactment.
       (c) Periodic Review.--In issuing the final rule issued 
     under subsection (b), the Administrator shall further specify 
     a process for periodic review and update of the rule to 
     reflect future advances in aircraft noise reduction 
     technology and relevant regulatory changes, as determined by 
     the Administrator.

  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 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material into the Record on H.R. 3410.
  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. 3410, the Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act, 
or the SAM Act, lays the preliminary framework for a return to civil 
supersonic aircraft operations in the United States.
  The SAM Act directs the administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration to issue or revise current regulations that are outdated 
and, in some cases, to create an artificial speed limit that hampers 
American innovation.
  Despite these restrictions, engine technology has continued to mature 
and successfully demonstrate that it is feasible to conduct supersonic 
operations in the National Airspace System

[[Page H2662]]

without generating a sonic boom that reaches the ground.
  Furthermore, the SAM Act builds on key work done in the FAA 
Reauthorization Act of 2024 to usher in a new age of American 
innovation in the skies.
  President Trump's executive order titled: ``Leading the World in 
Supersonic Flight'' documented the importance of American leadership in 
this reemerging sector of aviation.
  To that end, the time is now. Let's come together and support 
American business and innovation.
  Madam Speaker, I urge support for this legislation, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. FIGURES. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3410, the Supersonic 
Aviation Modernization Act, as amended, bipartisan legislation 
introduced by Representative Nehls and Representative Davids.
  One of the priorities of the Transportation and Infrastructure 
Committee, which I have the privilege of sitting on with my colleague 
from Ohio, Representative Taylor, is to look for new ways to help our 
constituents have a better flying experience.
  Supersonic flight is poised to be another paradigm shift in the 
aviation industry, especially if it can be done in ways that maintain 
safety and limit noise and sonic booms.
  However, currently supersonic aircraft are prohibited from operating 
in the U.S. without a special authorization from the FAA.
  H.R. 3410, as amended, is the first step to eventually allowing 
Americans to safely travel across the country at almost half the time 
it takes now, providing more time for being productive or spending the 
time with family and not on a plane.
  The bill would require the FAA to revise current regulations to 
ensure supersonic aircraft could fly in the U.S. as long as these 
operations do not create a supersonic boom that reaches the ground.
  It would also help ensure these aircraft would not create noise 
levels any higher than traditional aircraft that are currently in 
operation.
  This bipartisan bill also calls for future updates to the standard by 
the FAA to ensure supersonic aircraft become even quieter in the 
future.
  Furthermore, the bill ensures that these noise standards are 
periodically reviewed and further updated to reflect the latest 
advances in aircraft technology.
  While Congress and the FAA should continue working to make supersonic 
flight more sustainable, I am greatly encouraged that the industry 
stakeholders are designing their supersonic aircraft to fly completely 
on sustainable aviation fuel.
  The potential benefits to consumers are promising: less time on the 
aircraft and more time building that new business or spending time with 
friends and family.
  Madam Speaker, I thank the Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Nehls and 
Representative Davids from Kansas for their leadership on this 
legislation. I support this legislation and urge my colleagues to do 
the same.
  Madam Speaker, in closing we should have been here a long time ago in 
terms of being able to build on the supersonic technology that has been 
out for years. It has been over two decades now since a supersonic 
aircraft has been used in a commercial context, and we have the 
technological advances to be able to do so and do so safely and 
efficiently.
  This legislation is common sense. It pushes back or guards against 
the things that had the most worries in previous iterations of this 
type of technology, particularly sonic booms reaching the ground and 
noise levels.
  The flying public deserves a better flying experience, and this bill 
is a step in the right direction of being able to provide that. That is 
why I support it, and I 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 Aviation Subcommittee Chairman 
Representative Nehls for his leadership on this issue.
  A return of civil supersonic operations within the National Airspace 
System will reimagine how Americans travel and commute, opening new 
possibilities for people and commerce to traverse this great Nation.
  Think of the possibilities: DC to Los Angeles in just 2 hours. While 
this may seem far-fetched, it is closer to reality than many would 
believe. In fact, several U.S. airlines already have preorders of 
supersonic jets.
  To reiterate, the SAM Act will revise current outdated regulations 
and place the United States in a prime position to be the global leader 
in civil supersonic technologies.
  Madam Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. NEHLS. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3410, the 
Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act, which will help unlock the next 
era of American aviation innovation.
  My bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to update 
its regulations to allow civil supersonic flight within the National 
Airspace System, provided that no audible sonic boom reaches the 
ground. It is a balanced, commonsense approach that prioritizes both 
technological advancement and the protection of communities on the 
ground.
  Current FAA restrictions, which have remained unchanged since 1973, 
broadly prohibit commercial supersonic flight over land without special 
authorization. While these rules were appropriate for their time, they 
no longer reflect the state of modern aerospace technology.
  Today, advancements in engine design, aerodynamics, and materials 
have made it possible to achieve speeds above Mach I without generating 
audible sonic booms at ground level. American companies are already 
demonstrating that quieter supersonic flight is not only feasible, but 
safe and reliable.
  It is essential that the FAA modernize its regulatory framework to 
reflect these technological realities. By establishing clear, science 
and evidence-based standards, we can provide certainty to innovations 
while ensuring the highest safety standards.
  This legislation also reinforces key provisions outlined in President 
Trump's executive order aimed at ensuring U.S. leadership in civil 
supersonic aviation, making clear that outdated regulations should not 
stand in the way of American ingenuity.
  H.R. 3410 represents an opportunity for the United States to reclaim 
and strengthen its leadership in global aviation. By embracing 
innovation while maintaining rigorous safety and noise standards, we 
can accelerate the development of future-generation air travel, create 
high-skilled jobs, and ensure that American companies, not foreign 
competitors, set the pace for the future of flight.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and help usher in a 
new era of quiet, efficient, and transformative supersonic travel.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Cammack). 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. 3410, 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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