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Westerman votes to improve aviation safety and infrastructure

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WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, bipartisan legislation that will reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for five years and improve American aviation safety and infrastructure. Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) released the following statement:

"The FAA Reauthorization will make timely and strategic investments to bolster aviation safety and infrastructure, support the aviation workforce, and drive economic growth. Arkansas is on track to be a leader in aviation, and this legislation is a significant step in getting us there. As a member of the Aviation subcommittee, I was proud to play a role in passing this historically bipartisan bill, and I look forward to the President signing it into law expeditiously."

BACKGROUND:

Westerman ensured the inclusion of provisions in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 that will:

  • Grow the state of Arkansas' aviation workforce by reauthorizing funding for the Aviation Workforce Development (AWD) program, which will educate the next generation of aviation professionals.

  • Improve radio communications at the Mena Intermountain Municipal Airport. 

  • Support the Unmanned Aircraft System Collegiate Training Initiative at the University of Arkansas to prepare students for careers in the emerging field of drone aviation.

  • Improve Arkansas' airport infrastructure by providing $23 million in Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding to the state of Arkansas for airport capital improvement projects. Arkansas has 76 airports that are eligible for AIP funding.

  • Ensure data privacy and safety of General Aviation (GA) aircraft, crew, and passengers by allowing GA aircraft to ask the FAA to block the plane's aircraft codes from the public.

  • Ensure the safety of manned aircraft is considered when the FAA proposed rules for Beyond Visual Line of Site (BVLOS) Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) to ensure the safety of pilots and passengers on manned aircraft.

Westerman serves as a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Subcommittee on Aviation.

Click here for more information on the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.