Bipartisan bill included provisions Klobuchar pushed for to improve aviation and passenger safety, implement new technology like NextGen, as well as streamline and update certification requirements for aviation manufacturers, and increase support for small airport programs

A provision based on Klobuchar’s STOP Act was also included in the bill; it will require training for flight attendants to recognize and report human trafficking

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar announced that many of her aviation priorities passed the Senate today as a part of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2016. The bipartisan bill includes provisions Klobuchar pushed for to improve aviation and passenger safety, implement new technologies like NextGen, as well as streamline and update certification requirements for aviation manufacturers, and increase support for small airport programs. A provision based on Klobuchar’s Stop Trafficking On Planes (STOP) Act was also included in the bill and will require training for flight attendants to recognize and report human trafficking. It builds on voluntary efforts to encourage airline personnel to report trafficking to law enforcement.

"The benefits of having a modern, efficient, safe air travel system cannot be overstated,” said Klobuchar. “From tourism to manufacturing, when we improve our air travel system, we make it that much easier for people to travel and goods to ship. We must also make sure our air travel is safe, and that includes doing more to strengthen airport security and to give flight attendants the tools to better identify victims of human trafficking. This bipartisan vote in the Senate brings us one step closer to ensuring that our aviation industry is better, stronger, and safer than before.”

Klobuchar successfully included the following provisions in the long-term FAA Reauthorization bill agreement:

  • STOP Act: Klobuchar’s provision is based off her Stop Trafficking On Planes (STOP) Act, which would require training for flight attendants to recognize and report suspected human trafficking to law enforcement. The legislation builds on the voluntary Blue Lightning Initiative currently administered by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Transportation. Klobuchar introduced this bill with Senator Mark Warner (D-VA).
  • Passenger Safety: Klobuchar helped introduce a critical amendment to strengthen airport security. The amendment will strengthen U.S. airport security, especially in non-secure areas at airports like check-in and baggage claim areas. It would also increase the presence of federal agents with bomb-sniffing canines at these non-secure areas, and direct Homeland Security funding to enhance security in those areas.
  • Implementation of New Technology: Many of our air traffic control systems are outdated. Klobuchar’s provision would provide the FAA with the tools it needs to effectively implement the transition to NextGen technologies, like satellites, instead of ground-based radar, virtual maps, up-to-date weather reports, and other real-time information to help all of our pilots navigate more safely and efficiently. The provision also includes important oversight requirements to ensure the FAA is moving forward in an efficient manner.
  • Streamline and Update Certification Requirements: In 2013, Klobuchar’s bipartisan Small Airplane Revitalization Act, which she introduced with Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) to require the FAA to update its certification requirements for aviation manufacturers was signed into law. The FAA reauthorization bill sets a December 2016 deadline to complete the update. It also includes provisions to ensure that the FAA has the resources it needs to continue supporting the global competitiveness of the U.S. aviation manufacturing sector.
  • Support for Small Airport Programs: There are many small airports across the country and in Minnesota. Klobuchar’s provision, which is based on Small Airport Regulation Relief Act that she cosponsored, would allow small community airports to preserve eligibility under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) even if there is a temporary drop in the number of passengers using the airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2016 is a bipartisan bill that strengthens security, enhances safety, cuts red tape, and modernizes our aviation system. It includes a significant increase in funding for the Airport Improvement Program, which helps airports of all sizes make infrastructure improvements. There is also a provision to improve existing security systems in airports by expanding bomb-sniffing dog patrols, law enforcement training for emergency situations, and security in all areas of the airport. The legislation also provides the FAA with the tools it needs to effectively implement the transition to NextGen, and includes important oversight requirements to ensure the FAA is moving forward in an efficient manner.

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