Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House of Representatives will consider the Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (ALERT) Act of 2026 (H.R. 7613), the bipartisan comprehensive legislative response to 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 ALERT Act is cosponsored by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL), and Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA).

Read what many aviation and safety stakeholder groups are saying about the safety legislation that was unanimously approved by both the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Armed Services Committee on March 26, 2026:

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB): “We thank Chairman Graves, Ranking Member Larsen, Chairman Rogers, and Ranking Member Smith for meeting with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) over the last several weeks. We are grateful that they have sought out, seriously considered, and accepted the NTSB’s technical assistance to better understand and implement our recommendations from the final report on the investigation…. In that final report, the NTSB issued 74 findings and 50 safety recommendations…. The text, as posted on March 24, 2026, would require the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the Federal Aviation Administration to take actions that, when completed, would address our recommendations.” (read the full statement here)

Affordable Skies Coalition: “The Affordable Skies Coalition supports passage of the Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (ALERT Act). This legislation takes important steps to strengthen aviation safety by advancing technology, including requirements for ADS-B In and upgrades to the Airborne Collision Avoidance System Xa (ACAS Xa). It also improves coordination between military and civilian aviation authorities and reflects key recommendations from the NTSB following the January 29, 2025, midair collision at Washington National Airport (DCA). We believe these actions will strengthen the safety of the National Airspace System and provide greater protection for travelers.”

Air Medical Operators Association & Association of Air Medical Services: “AAMS and AMOA urge the House of Representatives to promptly approve the ALERT Act and Congress to move expeditiously to enact aviation safety legislation into law that recognizes the life-saving role and specific operational issues of air medical services.” (read the full statement here)

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)

Association of Value Airlines: “The Association of Value Airlines strongly supports the ALERT Act and thanks T&I Committee Chairman Sam Graves and Ranking Member Rick Larsen for their bipartisan proposal to improve aviation safety. The ALERT Act creates a flexible, scalable approach to collision avoidance technology. We urge the House to act swiftly to pass this critical bill.”

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)

General Aviation Manufacturers Association: “We applaud Representatives Graves, Larsen, Nehls, Carson and all committee members for their support and leadership in working to address aviation and airspace safety issues and the recommendations made by the NTSB in its final report…. GAMA values the ALERT Act’s emphasis on fostering technologies developed by aviation manufacturers to advance safety and operational improvements.” (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.”

Regional Airlines Association: “Overall, RAA supports the bill’s safety objectives, including advancing technologies to improve situational awareness, and looks forward to working with the committee to ensure that implementation and supply chain pathways are developed and in place for all fleet types as solutions are identified, certified, and deployed across the system. We are grateful for the Committees’ leadership on safety and look forward to continuing to work together to advance safety across the National Airspace System.”

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)

Southwest Airlines Pilots Association: “The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) commends the House of Representatives for its decisive action to ensure the recommendations of the National Transportation Safety Board’s final report on the tragic accident at Reagan National Airport are fully implemented. This comprehensive legislation — led by Chairman Graves and Ranking Member Larsen, in partnership with Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith — represents a meaningful and bipartisan commitment to strengthening aviation safety, particularly at our nation’s busiest and most complex airports.” (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)