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THE RUNWAY: JUNE RECAP
In this Issue:
FAA REAUTHORIZATION
COMMITTEE ACTIVITY
MEMBERS SPOTLIGHT
In THE NEWS
CONGRESSIONAL BASEBALL GAME

During the month of June, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee took crucial steps forward in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization process by introducing, marking up, and unanimously approving H.R. 3935, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act. Additionally, the Committee held hearings on Amtrak operations, the National Academy of Sciences report on the future of the Coast Guard, and the fiscal year 2024 budget requests of agencies under the jurisdiction of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee.
 
COMMITTEE ADVANCES FAA REAUTHORIZATION
On June 9th, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), along with Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), Aviation Chairman Garret Graves (R-LA), and Aviation Ranking Member Steve Cohen (D-TN), introduced H.R. 3935, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act, bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the FAA and aviation safety and infrastructure programs for the next five years.

H.R. 3935 highlights include:

  • Improving efficiency at the FAA
  • Strengthening America’s general aviation (GA) sector
  • Encouraging aviation innovation
  • Enhancing the passenger experience
  • Growing the aviation workforce
  • Investing in U.S. airport infrastructure
  • Upholding America’s gold standard in safety
  • Authorizing the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

Upon introduction, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act garnered widespread support from the aviation community.

(Chairman Sam Graves and Ranking Member Larsen at the June 13-14 markup of H.R. 3935)
The Committee held a two-day markup of the bill, from June 13-14, that culminated in the Committee’s unanimous 63-0 approval of the bill. Following the bill’s passage by the Committee, Chairman Graves spoke about the significance of this legislation, saying, “this bipartisan bill is critical to America’s global leadership in aviation, to our economy and millions of jobs, and to making the entire system safer and more efficient for all users and the traveling public.”

 “From the first ever GA title in an FAA reauthorization, to measures broadening the pipeline of future aviation professionals, to the needed investments in the system’s infrastructure and more, this bill will help secure the United States’ position as the gold standard in aviation safety and innovation,” he continued.

Additional information about the FAA reauthorization process and H.R. 3935, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act, is available here.
 
COMMITTEE ACTIVITY

Accountability for Amtrak
On June 6th, the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials held a hearing entitled, “Amtrak Operations: Examining the Challenges and Opportunities for Improving Efficiency and Service.”

Stephen Gardner, CEO of Amtrak, and Mitch Warren, Executive Director of the Northeast Corridor Commission provided witness testimony at the hearing and answered questions from Committee members, including questions about recent large salary bonuses collected by Amtrak executives. Read more about T&I Members’ efforts to push for more accountability at Amtrak.

(Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner)
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) gave historic funding to railroads, with a large portion of that money going to Amtrak: an unprecedented $100 billion for Amtrak over five years and another at least $30 billion in discretionary multimodal grants for which Amtrak and other intercity passenger rail projects are eligible.

Despite Amtrak’s increased funding, the federally chartered corporation continues to operate at a deficit. In his opening remarks, Subcommittee Chairman Troy Nehls (R-TX) said, “Since its creation in 1971, Amtrak has never made a profit. Despite the funding provided in IIJA, Amtrak predicts it will lose roughly $1 billion per year, with those losses largely covered by the taxpayers.”

Additional information about the hearing is available here.

National Academy of Sciences Report on the Coast Guard’s Next Decade

(Chairman Daniel Webster (R-FL) delivers opening remarks at the June 21st Subcommittee hearing.)
The Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation held a hearing to examine the National Academy of Sciences report, “the Coast Guard’s Next Decade: An Assessment of Emerging Challenges and Statutory Needs,” which was delivered to the Committee last month.

The Elijah E. Cummings Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020 directed the Coast Guard to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to assess the emerging issues that will require Coast Guard action over the next decade and provide recommendations on what adjustments will be needed to support the Coast Guard’s efforts to confront these issues.

The three witnesses who provided testimony during the hearing were Admiral Steve Poulin, Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard; Dr. Cary Coglianese, Chair of the National Academy of Sciences panel that authored the study; and Heather MacLeod, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, Government Accountability Office (GAO).

Additional information about the National Academy of Sciences report and the Subcommittee hearing is available here.

Reviewing Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Requests
On June 22nd, the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment held part one of two in a series of hearings focused on the President’s fiscal year 2024 budget proposal. During part one of the hearing, the Subcommittee heard from the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, which all fall under the Subcommittee’s jurisdiction.

During the hearing, Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer questioned the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works about how the agency plans to implement the Supreme Court’s decision that the Biden administration’s “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule is illegal.

Additional information about this Subcommittee hearing is available here.
 
MEMBERS SPOTLIGHT

(Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA-O6))
As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation, Rep. Garret Graves provided key leadership throughout the development, introduction, and Committee markup of the bipartisan FAA reauthorization legislation. Rep. Graves is serving his fifth term in the U.S. House as the Representative for Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District.

Following the Committee’s approval of H.R. 3935, Rep. Graves said the bill “is the most comprehensive aviation legislation the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has ever approved. This legislation will help to improve the passenger experience for all travelers while laying the groundwork for innovators and new technologies to advance in America.”

In addition to being a member of the House T&I Committee, he serves on the House Committee on Natural Resources.

(Rep. Rudy Yakym (R-IN-02))
Rep, Rudy Yakym is Vice-Chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation and worked alongside Committee leaders in helping to craft the FAA reauthorization bill.

After H.R. 3935 was introduced, Rep. Yakym said he “will continue working with Committee leadership and my colleagues to get this bill across the finish line in time so we can uphold America’s gold standard of safety and make needed investments in our nation’s aviation technology and critical infrastructure.”

Rep. Yakym serves on the T&I Committee and the House Committee on the Budget.
 
IN THE NEWS

CQ News: House panel advances FAA reauthorization, keeps amendments in play

General Aviation News: Congress begins working on FAA reauthorization

E&E News: Army Corps official: WOTUS update 'already underway' House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee lawmakers questioned Michael Connor during a hearing Thursday.

Progressive Railroading: Rail Subcommittee Chair Nehls to Amtrak: Focus on existing network, not expansion

Rep. Daniel Webster in the Village News: Air travel must be efficient and safe
 
CONGRESSIONAL BASEBALL GAME

(The Republican team celebrates after winning the Congressional Baseball Game)
Every year since 1909, Members of Congress have gathered for a bipartisan baseball game. The 2023 Congressional Baseball Game was played on June 14th, and saw the Republican team defeat the Democrats by a score of 16-6 while more than $1.8 million was raised for local charities.

Several T&I Republicans participated in this year’s game, including: Reps. Aaron Bean (FL), Mike Bost (IL), Tim Burchett (TN), and Mike Ezell (MS).
 
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