July 20, 2023

Rep. Sykes Applauds House Passage Of Bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Strong Sykes (OH-13) applauded the House passage of H.R. 3935, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act, bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and aviation safety and infrastructure programs for the next five years.

“Ohio has a proud legacy as the ‘Birthplace of Aviation,’ and H.R. 3935 will ensure Ohio’s 13th Congressional District continues to be a pioneer in the aviation and aerospace industry,” said Rep. Sykes. “H.R. 3935 invests billions into airports large and small, including Akron Canton Airport, Akron Executive Airport, and Kent State University Airport, to keep our skies safe and make our aviation infrastructure cleaner and greener. This bipartisan legislation is a major victory for America’s aviation workforce and consumers alike, improving the safety, health, and well-being standards for workers on the ground and in the air, while also protecting consumer rights so all people in Ohio’s 13th District can travel with safety and dignity.”

H.R. 3935 includes two important provisions Rep. Sykes supported, which:

  • Support the advancement of a Remote Tower program in Ohio to improve traffic control for aircrafts that utilize smaller airports, generating economic development and safer airspaces; and
  • Reauthorize the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) by hiring an additional 15 rail investigators, which will allow more timely, thoughtful reports to Congress to prevent future accidents like the February 2023 East Palestine train derailment.

Watch Rep. Sykes’s floor remarks on H.R. 3935 here.

Rep. Sykes is the sole Ohioan on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which has jurisdiction over all modes of transportation, including the U.S. aviation system, highways and bridges, transit and rail transportation, pipelines, and maritime and waterborne transportation. She is also a member of the bipartisan House Aerospace Caucus, which works to maintain U.S. global aerospace leadership, highlight the critical work that organizations and employees perform, engage members and staff on challenges facing the industry, and address legislative issues impacting aerospace.

H.R. 3935 now awaits consideration in the U.S. Senate.