CRAMER: HOUSE PASSES FAA REAUTHORIZATION

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Kevin Cramer commended the passage of a bipartisan five-year bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and disaster relief by the House of Representatives today. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 and the Disaster Recovery Reform Act, H.R. 4, included Cramer’s amendment on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) access to spectrum.

Specifically, Cramer’s amendment directs the FAA, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), to submit a report to Congress on whether UAS operations should be permitted to operate on spectrum designated for aviation use.

Cramer heard from the Executive Director of the Northern Plains UAS test site while working closely with stakeholders in Grand Forks. “This report will provide the UAS industry a clear path to help safely integrate advanced UAS operations into the National Airspace System,” said Nicholas Flom.

The FAA is the national aviation authority of the U.S., with powers to regulate all aspects of American civil aviation. These include the construction and operation of airports, the management of air traffic, the certification of personnel and aircraft, and the protection of United States assets during the launch or reentry of commercial space vehicles. Today, aviation helps drive the U.S. economy, accounting for millions of American jobs and over 5 percent of the nation’s GDP.

“I am glad we passed long-term funding to ensure our nation’s aviation system will run effectively and efficiently for the next five years,” said Cramer. “This bill supports vital functions of the FAA and gives manufacturers the opportunity to innovate and improve the aviation industry.”  

Click here to watch Cramer’s floor speech on his amendment.

Highlights in the Legislation

• Removes obsolete restrictions on the Passenger Facility Charge allowing airports to more effectively finance airport infrastructure projects that directly benefit the traveling public.
• Authorizes $3.35 billion annually for the Airport Improvement Program.
• Modifies the Airport Improvement Program by prohibiting the FAA from requiring airports to provide construction services or building space without compensation or reimbursements.
• Establishes processes to accelerate implementation of low-altitude unmanned aircraft system traffic management (UTM) system.
• Expedites safe deployment of commercial UAS by creating a risk-based permitting process.
• Fosters development of sense-and-avoid technology at UAS test ranges.
• Establishes a streamlined process for the FAA to permit the operation of small UAS for certain uses.
• Requires a DOT study on the privacy implications of UAS operations.
• Directs the DOT Inspector General to assess the FAA’s small UAS registration system and requires FAA to develop and track metrics to assess compliance with and effectiveness of the system.
• Directs the DOT Inspector General to study the potential roles of state and local governments.
• Requires the Comptroller General to study financing options related to regulation and oversight of UAS.
• Increases transparency by requiring FAA to publish information on approved small drone waivers and airspace authorizations, and to provide real time data on application status.  

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