Press Releases

Tomorrow, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will consider its portion of the Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (ALERT) Act of 2026 (H.R. 7613), bipartisan comprehensive legislation in response to the various aviation safety issues raised by the tragic 2025 midair collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a UH-60 Army Black Hawk helicopter at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

The legislation to be considered tomorrow is an updated version of the ALERT Act that was first introduced on February 20, 2026, following the conclusion of the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) full investigation of the accident.  The ALERT Act is a comprehensive package of improvements that respond to the broad scope of safety issues raised by the NTSB’s investigation, and it reflects a number of updates based on discussions with the NTSB and other aviation stakeholders since its introduction. 

Aviation stakeholder groups supporting the updated text of the ALERT Act include:

Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association: “AMFA applauds the bipartisan leadership in the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and the House Armed Services Committee for advancing the Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (ALERT) Act of 2026. This legislation strengthens safety, improves transparency, and reinforces the shared commitment to protecting the flying public and the professionals who maintain our nation’s aircraft. We appreciate the collaborative effort that brought this bill forward and look forward to continuing our work together to support policies that enhance aviation safety and operational integrity.”

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association: “The aviation industry has been unified in the aftermath of the tragic accident at DCA last year in making every effort with our government partners to bring forward solutions to improve aviation safety. The ALERT Act addresses the NTSB's recommendations. AOPA commends Committee leaders and remains committed to the goals of making the system safer for all users. The ALERT Act ensures a pilot’s privacy remains protected and collision avoidance technology, ADS-B, is used for its intended safety purpose and not for economic gain. We support the ALERT Act's passage and will continue to work with all Members of Congress to promote policies that solidify the US aviation system as the global gold standard.”

Airlines for America: “A4A appreciates the strong leadership shown by Representatives Graves, Larsen, Rogers and Smith in crafting a comprehensive response to the NTSB’s recommendations from its final report on the DCA tragedy. The ALERT Act takes a holistic approach in making safety improvements across our aviation system and recognizes the need to act with urgency as the use of airspace continues to grow and becomes more complex. A4A will continue to work with all stakeholders toward our shared responsibility of keeping aviation the safest mode of transportation in the world.”

Allegiant Travel Company: “We applaud your leadership in introducing legislation that provides for holistic solutions to safeguard the flying public…. It tackles critical systemic issues, including air traffic control training, interagency data sharing with the Department of War, and revised helicopter routing.” (read the full statement here)

Allied Pilots Association: “On behalf of the 16,000 pilots of American Airlines, the Allied Pilots Association (APA) strongly applauds the introduction of the Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (ALERT) Act of 2026. This legislation represents a critical step forward in ensuring our National Airspace System remains the safest and most efficient in the world…. By ensuring that input from all pilot labor groups is integrated into the final language, the House has demonstrated its understanding that those on the front lines of aviation are best positioned to identify and address emerging safety risks.” (read the full statement here)

Experimental Aircraft Association: “This bipartisan legislation is intended as a comprehensive response to the National Transportation Safety Board’s recommendations stemming from the tragic events on January 29, 2025, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. EAA supports the Act’s ensuring that ADS-B equipment is only used for its intended safety-enhancing purposes, thus promoting its continued widespread adoption and use by industry.” (read the full statement here)

National Air Carrier Association: “The National Air Carrier Association (NACA) supports House action advancing the bipartisan ALERT Act and views the proposal as a pragmatic step toward reducing midair collision risk across the National Airspace System…. A key strength of the measure is its reliance on a flexible, outcomes-based framework rather than prescriptive technology mandates…. NACA encourages prompt House passage of the ALERT Act to ensure that the operational and technological improvements outlined in the bill can move toward implementation without delay.”

National Air Traffic Controllers Association: “The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) thanks Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee Chairman Sam Graves and Ranking Member Rick Larsen for their leadership on the Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (ALERT) Act of 2026. NATCA worked closely with Chairman Graves and Ranking Member Larsen on this comprehensive, bipartisan amendment in the nature of a substitute (ANS) that will enhance aviation safety for commercial aviation, general aviation, and military aircraft, as well as the flying public and citizens on the ground. Critically, the ALERT Act ANS released on Wednesday, March 25 addresses the safety recommendations of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) following the tragic 2025 midair collision at DCA.”

National Air Transportation Association: ““Safety is something we all stand for. The ALERT Act delivers meaningful safety gains by establishing a performance-based path to strengthen risk mitigation and improve situational awareness for pilots and controllers throughout the National Airspace System. We thank House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Sam Graves (R-MO) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), along with Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Troy Nehls (R-TX) and Ranking Member André Carson (D-IN), for their bipartisan leadership in advancing this comprehensive aviation safety framework. The legislation will accelerate adoption of proven safety technologies, strengthen FAA safety culture, and support more consistent training and procedures in complex operating environments by setting clear performance outcomes. NATA encourages Congress to advance the ALERT Act.”

National Business Aviation Association: “This legislation aims to dramatically improve safety in today’s operations by closing existing gaps identified by the NTSB, while also advancing the development and certification of future safety systems. Importantly, the ALERT Act would also create processes to bring together technical experts from across our nation’s diverse aviation industry to develop the solutions for meeting this high safety requirement.” (read the full statement here)

NetJets: “NetJets supports the bipartisan ALERT Act and applauds the committee for its thoughtful and deliberative response to the tragic DCA crash.  We appreciate Chairman Graves and Ranking Member Larsen working in a collaborative manner to introduce legislation grounded in safety data and operational realities while meaningfully incorporating the entirety of NTSB’s final recommendations.  The ALERT Act allows FAA the authority to work together with industry stakeholders and safety experts to incorporate the most advanced collision avoidance technologies into the aviation system to help prevent future tragedies.  Chairman Graves and Ranking Member Larsen continue to demonstrate a serious commitment to advancing aviation safety.”

Reliable Robotics: “Reliable Robotics is proud to provide our support for the amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 7613, which will significantly enhance United States aviation safety. The detailed manner in which this bill responds to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) findings from the tragic 2025 midair collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a UH-60 Army Black Hawk helicopter at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is noteworthy, and it deserves full consideration by the House and Senate.” (read the full statement here)

Vertical Aviation International: “We commend the Committee for advancing a bill that addresses all 50 safety-related recommendations identified by the NTSB and considers each of the Board’s findings of probable cause. By responding to every recommendation, the ALERT Act provides a thorough and holistic framework for meaningful, system-wide improvements across the National Airspace System.” (read the full statement here)