{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/davids-cleaver-give-joint-address-faa-staff-discuss-impact-new-reauthorization", "Davids, Cleaver Give Joint Address to FAA Staff, Discuss Impact of New Reauthorization for Aviation Workforce and Flyers", "2024-06-06", "2024", "2024-06", "Democrat", "House", "KS", "Sharice Davids", "D000629", "davids.house.gov", "davids", "https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "KANSAS CITY, MO - Today, Representatives Sharice Davids (KS-03) and Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05) visited the Federal Aviation Administration\u2019s (FAA) Central Region Headquarters to speak with FAA leadership and jointly address local aviation workers. The two Members thanked the workers for their efforts to keep Americans safe while flying and discussed the impact of the bipartisan FAA reauthorization that was signed into law last month. The package, which Davids and Cleaver both supported, strengthens domestic aviation workforce and manufacturing, improves customer protections while flying, and increases America\u2019s aviation safety standards.\n\n\u201cThe dedication and expertise of FAA employees are what keep our skies safe and our aviation system running smoothly. I was grateful for the opportunity to hear from them today, express my appreciation for their hard work, and discuss Representative Cleaver's and my efforts to pass a reauthorization that supports their vital role,\u201d said Representative Davids. \u201cLast month's bipartisan reauthorization is a significant investment in our country\u2019s aviation industry, ensuring we have the tools needed to ensure the safety of flyers, the protection of Americans' wallets, and the uninterrupted flow of goods.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica has maintained its gold standard in aviation safety and innovation for over a century because the industry is built on a strong public-private partnership. It would not be possible without robust investments from the federal government nor the invaluable work of FAA employees like those in Kansas City and all across the country,\u201d said Congressman Cleaver. \u201cThese men and women are committed to ensuring Americans\u2019 travel experience is safe and satisfactory, and we couldn\u2019t be more thankful for their service to the nation. Whether it\u2019s increasing investments to strengthen the pipeline of our aviation workforce or expanding consumer protections that alleviate unnecessary tension with innocent workers, the bipartisan FAA reauthorization is major victory for FAA employees and travelers alike.\u201d\n\nThe bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024, which passed Congress last month, will fund the FAA for the next five years and provide new guidance and standards for the agency. It included a Davids-sponsored amendment to modernize control tower-pilot communications, which will help limit safety lapses and near misses in the skies and on airport runways. Specifically, it:\n\nImproves airline customer protections and accessibility by directing the Department of Transportation (DOT) to:\n\nDevelop policies for airlines to reimburse passengers for meal and hotel costs incurred when a flight is cancelled;\n\nRequire airlines to create plans to prevent and limit the impact of mass flight cancelations;\n\nEstablish policies allowing passengers to sit next to their young child.\n\nIncreases America\u2019s aviation safety standards by:\n\nDecreasing the risk of airport near-collisions;\n\nReviewing airplane passenger emergency medical kits and evacuation procedures;\n\nRequiring the FAA to update security measures to help prevent assaults against flight crews and passengers.\n\nStrengthens U.S. aviation workforce and manufacturing by:\n\nHiring more air traffic controller agents;\n\nBoosting American manufacturing through limiting Chinese-owned companies from accessing federal dollars.\n\nDavids has prioritized consumer protections and safety throughout the FAA reauthorization process. She previously introduced an amendment to the reauthorization package to ensure transparency of airline fees for consumers throughout the ticketing process. During a committee hearing, Davids spoke with airline professionals about how the overall flying experience, including safety and transparency of hidden fees, could be improved. She also called on the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg to provide answers for last year\u2019s aviation safety notification system meltdown and to hold airlines accountable for mass cancellations.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:11:47Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/davids-cleaver-give-joint-address-faa-staff-discuss-impact-new-reauthorization"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9323349222540855, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}