Washington, DC – U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro (NY-19), a member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, this week voted to advance 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 8 measures that Rep. Molinaro led to support Upstate New York.
Specifically, Rep. Molinaro advocated to include measures in this bill that will stop aircraft maintenance jobs from being moved overseas, help Upstate New Yorkers secure jobs in the aviation industry, advance unmanned aerial systems (UAS) technology, and provide funding opportunities for local airports. He also advocated for inclusion of measures that support aviation unions and allow Kingston-Ulster Airport and the Wurtsboro-Sullivan Airport to be eligible for federal funding to make airport upgrades.
Rep. Molinaro said, "This is a bipartisan, pro-worker bill. I am proud to have led the charge in advancing measures that will support and create good-paying jobs, raise the voice of unions, promote technological advancements, and invest in our local airports. This bill is a win for Upstate New York.”
Rep. Sam Graves, Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee said, “I commend Rep. Molinaro for advancing this critical FAA reauthorization bill and working relentlessly to advocate for measures that support job creation, innovation, and help airports in Upstate New York make upgrades. With Rep. Molinaro’s support, this bipartisan bill will deliver important wins for Upstate New York and our entire nation.”
Summaries of Rep. Molinaro-led measures included in the bill:
- The Global Aircraft Maintenance Safety Improvement Act. Rep. Molinaro introduced this bipartisan, pro-American worker bill. It establishes a global safety standard for foreign aircraft repair stations and removes the incentive to offshore aircraft maintenance jobs.
- 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 ticket agent representative to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee. This measure ensures ticket 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.
Rep. Molinaro also drafted and advocated for the following bipartisan measures that were included in the bill:
- Making private reliver 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.
