Transportation & Infrastructure Committee

Bipartisan legislation that provides sweeping, transformational reform of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was introduced in the House of Representatives today.

The 21st Century Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act – the 21st Century AIRR Act – is sponsored by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA), Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO), Aviation Subcommittee Vice Chair Paul Mitchell (R-MI), U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI), and U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ).

President Trump often sounds off about America’s terrible roads or “third-world airports,” and he’s landed on one excellent idea: Spinning off air-traffic control from the Federal Aviation Administration. A new report explains how this could bring innovation and efficiency to airspace that the federal government is struggling to manage.

Mr. Trump’s budget proposes converting the FAA’s air-traffic outfit into “an independent, non-governmental organization,” as Canada has done, and dozens of other countries have similar models. House Transportation Chairman Bill Shuster last year introduced a bill to turn air-traffic control over to a nonprofit corporation run by a board with seats for airlines, the pilot’s union, hobbyist aviators and more, but it stalled without presidential support.

The House of Representatives today approved comprehensive water resources infrastructure legislation that addresses the needs of America’s harbors, locks, dams, flood protection, and other water resources infrastructure.

The House passed the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act on a bipartisan basis by a vote of 360 to 61, sending the bill to the Senate.

House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA), Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-OK), House Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), and House Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) today announced an agreement on comprehensive water resources infrastructure legislation.

The legislation, the “Water Infrastructure Improvements Act for the Nation (WIIN) Act,” includes the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which authorizes port, waterway, and flood protection improvements for the country. The WIIN Act also includes the Water and Waste Act of 2016 to help communities meet the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act and authorize state regulation of coal ash. In addition, the legislation addresses significant tribal and natural resources issues.

The House of Representatives today approved the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016 (H.R. 5303), comprehensive, bipartisan legislation to address the needs of America’s harbors, locks, dams, flood protection, and other water resources infrastructure.

The legislation passed the House by a vote of 399 to 25.

“This bill is fundamental to America’s competitiveness, and gets Congress back to the regular business of addressing some of our most pressing infrastructure needs. An efficient maritime and waterways transportation system is fundamental to the country’s economy,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA), sponsor of the legislation. “The process reforms Congress put in place in the 2014 water resources bill are working. Enacting a WRDA bill every two years is essential to maintaining an efficient transportation system, moving commerce effectively, and promoting economic growth throughout the country.”

U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA), Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today released the following statement on the release of guidelines from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) on autonomous vehicles:

“I have seen firsthand the speed at which autonomous vehicle technology has advanced. In 2007, I first saw Carnegie Mellon University’s prize-winning autonomous vehicle, and three years ago I had a test drive of the University’s next iteration of the car. In only a short period of time, we have seen significant investment in autonomous systems by large technology companies, start-ups, traditional automakers and ride sharing services. The volume of investment by such a wide range of interests removes any doubt that autonomous vehicles are the future. It is critical that we get this right, and ensure that we protect innovators and the safety of the driving public.

The House of Representatives today unanimously approved a bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) extension that ensures the FAA is funded through September 30, 2017, and that provides a limited number of important safety, security, and time-sensitive improvements for the U.S. aviation system.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-OR) sponsored the measure, H. Res. 818, the “FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016.”

Next time you’re 27th in line for takeoff on a airport tarmac, thank the federal government. The Federal Aviation Administration runs an air-traffic control system on the best technology World War II could offer, so it’s good news that some in Congress are trying to free up the aviation community to adopt better practices.

Next time you’re 27th in line for takeoff on a airport tarmac, thank the federal government. The Federal Aviation Administration runs an air-traffic control system on the best technology World War II could offer, so it’s good news that some in Congress are trying to free up the aviation community to adopt better practices.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today released a bipartisan draft of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016, legislation to address the needs of America’s harbors, locks, dams, flood protection, and other water resources infrastructure and help strengthen the Nation’s economic competitiveness.

Committee leaders plan to formally introduce the bill early next week, and mark up the legislation on Wednesday, May 25, 2016, at 10:00 a.m.