Rep. Polis Statement on Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization

Press Release

The House of Representatives approved the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization (H.R.636) this evening. The FAA reauthorization will extend funding for the program through Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 and includes critical provisions to enhance TSA security, shorten security lines, and refund luggage fees when bags are lost or delayed. The package also expands pre-check lanes and improves its sign-up process, assists traveling families to ensure that young children can sit with their parents, and requires airport staff to develop better training techniques when assisting individuals with disabilities.

Despite these strong measures, members of Congress were not given the opportunity to improve the bill through amendments. The reauthorization did not include the Helicopter Fuel System Safety Act, a key provision Rep. Polis and Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.) have been advocating for since the July 3, 2015, Flight for Life crash in Frisco, CO. The introduced legislation would require the FAA to install crash resistant fuel systems in newly manufactured helicopters by December 31, 2016.

Rep. Polis also urged for other amendments to be included, such as studies on airline delays, sound restrictions near local airports, and remote Air Traffic Control centers.

"The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization will ensure safer and easier air travel through 2017," Polis said. "Although I am pleased we were able to agree on a long-term FAA extension, I'm disappointed that the extension did not include commonsense language to protect the quiet skies of residents near our smaller airports, nor did it fix helicopter fuel systems. My hope is that we can all agree that Flight for Life helicopters should be equipped with the highest safety standards available."

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