Prairie State Wire

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator and pilot Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—met with Airlines for America (A4A) CEO and President Nick Calio to discuss some of her priorities that were included in the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023, many of which A4A supported. As one of the authors of the legislation, Duckworth successfully secured provisions that will improve safety for consumers, expand the aviation workforce and enhance protections for travelers with disabilities. If passed, the FAA reauthorization bill would extend FAA’s funding and authorities through the Fiscal Year 2028.

“The FAA Reauthorization Act is a win not only for our economy, but for aviation safety advocates and the entire flying public,” said Duckworth. “It was a pleasure to meet with A4A CEO and President Nick Calio to discuss our shared priorities in this bill that would help strengthen our aviation workforce as well as improve accessibility and passenger safety. I also stressed the need for provisions to make the future of American aviation more sustainable by increasing the supply of American-grown, American-made sustainable aviation fuel. As Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation, I’m committed to getting a strong, bipartisan bill with these goals and more across the finish line.”

The modified version of Senator Duckworth’s EVAC Act, which was included in the FAA Reauthorization bill, is supported by A4A. The modified version would require modernization and improvements to aircraft evacuation standards by requiring the FAA to conduct a comprehensive study on aircraft evacuation and empanel a committee of experts and stakeholders—including representatives of the disability community, senior citizens and pediatricians—to evaluate gaps in current evacuations standards and operating procedures and make recommendations. Additionally, the FAA would be required to initiate a rulemaking on any recommendations the FAA Administrator deems appropriate. The FAA would also be required to report study findings, committee recommendations and the Administrator’s plan to implement any such recommendations.

Original source can be found here.