Hearing

Witness List:

• Jodi Baker, Deputy Associate Administrator of Aviation Safety, Federal Aviation Administration | Witness Testimony
• Wayne Heibeck, Deputy Associate Administrator of Airports, Federal Aviation Administration | Witness Testimony
• Frank McIntosh, Deputy Chief Operating Officer of Air Traffic Organization, Federal Aviation Administration | Witness Testimony
• Derrick Collins, Director of Physical Infrastructure, United States Government Accountability Office | Witness Testimony

Opening remarks, as prepared, of Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO):

Tomorrow marks the one-year anniversary of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 being signed into law.

In crafting the law, the Committee received and processed more than 2,100 stakeholder and Member requests, held five detailed policy hearings in the lead-up to introduction, and produced a bipartisan product that garnered the support of more than 1,000 aviation organizations and companies.

When all was said and done, the final bill passed with the support of 387 Members of Congress and 88 Senators. Not many pieces of legislation enjoy such wide bipartisan support.

That bill, now law, touched just about everything in the aviation industry, including a strong and robust aviation safety title that included reforms to address close calls and near misses; a workforce title that addresses challenges head on by removing barriers for veterans and young individuals looking to begin a career in civil aviation, including bolstering the air traffic control workforce; an airport infrastructure title that increased the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) for the first time in over a decade and streamlined environmental permitting approvals; a new entrant title crafted to maintain American leadership in this emerging sector; and a passenger experience title aimed at improving travel for all Americans.

Furthermore, it’s a personal point of pride for me that the law included the first-ever general aviation (GA) title. General aviation is the foundation of this nation’s aviation system. In fact, it’s where many of our pilots, mechanics, and other hard working aviation professionals begin their careers. Put simply, the law recognized the importance of general aviation and protected the freedom to fly for every American.

While the Committee has been conducting oversight to ensure that congressional intent is upheld, today’s hearing represents the first time that Members will be able to hear from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on their progress.

I’m pleased the FAA has worked expeditiously to implement several key provisions in the GA title. Additionally, with heightened attention being placed on the need to modernize our air traffic control system – an initiative that all in this room support – the reauthorization bill gave the FAA a flight plan. Now they must start the plane and follow it.

To aid that effort, Republicans on this committee came together and approved a reconciliation package that appropriates $12.5 billion to the FAA for ATC modernization. This $12.5 billion investment will provide a significant down payment on the Administration’s plan to overhaul and modernize the ATC system, and I look forward to working with them in that effort.

I’d like to thank our witnesses for being here today and look forward to hearing from each of you about the progress that the FAA and the GAO have made in implementing this milestone legislation.