[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Page 3701]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        FAA REAUTHORIZATION BILL

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act 
is the product of a collaborative committee process in the Senate that 
is back to work. It was guided and informed by a series of substantive 
committee hearings. It contains ideas from committee members on both 
sides of the aisle, and because both Republicans and Democrats were 
given a stake in the outcome, it passed the Commerce Committee on a 
voice vote.
  Senator Thune is the chair of that committee and Senator Ayotte is 
the chair of the committee's aviation panel. We recognize key players 
like these for their many months of hard work, hearings, and 
collaboration. We recognize the ranking members, Senators Nelson and 
Cantwell, and committee members from both sides for their contributions 
as well.
  The bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act will support American jobs and 
help American manufacturing. It will improve safety in the skies and 
security in our airports. It contains commonsense reforms for 
passengers too. In fact, a consumer columnist for the Washington Post 
dubbed it ``one of the most passenger-friendly FAA reauthorization 
bills in a generation.'' For instance, to the extent an airline charges 
fees for things such as baggage or cancellations or changes, this bill 
will help ensure they provide it in a clear, standard format that 
people can actually understand. It will allow passengers to get refunds 
for services they purchased but didn't receive, like when they have 
been charged a bag fee and the bag doesn't make it. It will give 
passengers more peace of mind when they travel, directing the FAA to 
update the contents of the onboard emergency medical kits, and it will 
maintain rural access in States like Kentucky.
  The bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act achieves all of this without 
imposing the kind of overregulation that takes away choices from 
consumers and threatens service. It does everything I mentioned without 
raising taxes or fees on travelers. It is a balanced bill, but that 
doesn't mean some colleagues won't have ideas or amendments they would 
like to have considered. For instance, in the wake of incidents like we 
saw in Brussels, I know some have expressed interest in security-
related amendments. But in order to even have an opportunity to work 
through additional ideas or amendments, we must first get on the bill. 
After talking to the Democratic leader, I am optimistic we will do that 
in a few hours.
  If colleagues are serious about having the opportunity for amendments 
of any kind, here is what it means today: Let's continue doing our job. 
We will vote today to get on the bill, and we will move ahead.

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