Washington, DC – U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro (NY-19), a member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, today voted to pass legislation that reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) safety and infrastructure programs for the next five years. This legislation, which passed with bipartisan support, included nine measures that Rep. Molinaro led to support Upstate New York.
Rep. Molinaro said, “The FAA Reauthorization isn’t the flashiest of bills, but it’s one that’s going to have a real impact. It passed with nine bipartisan measures that I introduced to protect American jobs, help local airports make upgrades, advance new aerial technology, break down barriers for travelers with disabilities, and support unions. This bill is pro-worker and pro-traveler.”
Summaries of Rep. Molinaro’s bipartisan bills:
- The Aviation Investment and Recruitment (AIR) Act. Rep. Molinaro introduced this bipartisan bill to help Upstate New Yorkers secure jobs in the aviation industry by increasing federal funding for the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Aircraft Pilots and Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers Programs.
- The Future of Aviation Act. Rep. Molinaro introduced this bipartisan bill to help airports in Upstate New York fund Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) projects. These projects will move people and cargo between areas underserved by current aviation hubs, including rural areas.
- The Drone Safety and Efficiency Act. Rep. Molinaro introduced this bipartisan bill to advance unmanned aerial systems (UAS) technology and create good-paying jobs. It does this by streamlining the process for UAS operators to receive approval for flying at a distance that is outside of the normal visible range of the pilot, also known as Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS).
- The ACPAC Modernization Act. Rep. Molinaro introduced this bipartisan bill to add a travel agent representative to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee. This measure ensures travel agents, who advocate for airline consumers, have an elevated voice in the DOT’s consumer protection regulatory process.
- The National Center for the Advancement of Aviation Act of 2023. Rep. Molinaro introduced this bill to create the National Center for the Advancement of Aviation. This center will facilitate collaboration between civil, commercial, and military aviation sectors to develop solutions that address the aviation workforce shortage.
- The Access and Dignity for All People who Travel (ADAPT) Act. This bipartisan bill will improve the air travel experience for individuals with disabilities by improving seating accommodations, publishes training for airline staff for managing service animals, and provides transparency to Congress. It is time to remove the barriers and make flying accessible for all Americans.
Rep. Molinaro also drafted and advocated for the following bipartisan measures that were included in the bill:
- Making private reliever airports, including the Kingston-Ulster Airport and the Wurtsboro-Sullivan Airport, eligible for Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding. This program delivers federal funding for airport infrastructure upgrades.
- Added representation from the labor community to a number of FAA advisory committees, ensuring unions have their voice heard in federal aviation policy.
