Transportation (Airports)

HR 2592, the Aviation Medication Transparency Act of 2025, requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to create and maintain a public website listing medications approved for use by pilots and aircrew (airmen) during medical certification. The list must be developed with input from pilots' unions, air traffic controllers' representatives, and other stakeholders, and include details like "Do Not Issue" medications, required duty limitations for new medications, and contact information for medical providers. The FAA must publish this list within one year of the bill's enactment and update it annually. This directly affects pilots seeking or holding medical certifications by providing clear, accessible information about medication use in aviation.

This bill requires the Energy Information Administration (EIA) to collect and publish detailed data on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in its existing energy reports. Specifically, it mandates reporting on the raw materials used (including location by state, U.S., or country), production volumes, and import sources for SAF. The data must follow consistent statistical methods to avoid double-counting. This affects the energy industry by increasing transparency around SAF supply chains but does not create new regulations or funding.

HR 5049, the "Protecting Communities from Helicopter Noise Act," requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to study helicopter operations within a 20-mile radius of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. The study must analyze noise impacts on residential and recreational areas, helicopter traffic patterns, safety and environmental effects, and potential solutions like flight path changes or altitude limits. The FAA must submit a report to Congress within 180 days of the bill's enactment, focusing on concrete data rather than implementing new regulations. This bill directly affects communities near the Statue of Liberty in New York City by mandating an assessment of helicopter noise concerns.

This bill requires a working group to develop recommendations improving the transition of military air traffic control specialists (specifically those with series 2152 credentials) into civilian roles at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It directs the group to identify barriers in training systems, credential translation, and standardization between military and FAA requirements. The bill specifically targets how military experience, training, and credentials align with FAA hiring needs for controllers, managers, and supervisors. This directly affects military air traffic control personnel transitioning to FAA positions and the agencies managing these transitions.

HR 4994, the Safe Air on Airplanes Act, requires the Federal Aviation Administration to update regulations to phase out bleed air systems in aircraft. It prohibits new aircraft designs from using these systems, mandates filters to remove oil fumes in new aircraft by 2031 (7 years after enactment), and sets a 30-year phase-out schedule for existing aircraft designs (25% without bleed air by 2031, 50% by 2041, 100% by 2051). The bill directly affects aircraft manufacturers and airlines, as it changes requirements for cabin air systems that pull engine air for ventilation. These changes focus on modifying manufacturing standards and air quality systems in turbine and turbo-prop aircraft.

HR 2932, the CLEAR Skies Act, creates a tax credit for producing unleaded aviation gasoline in the U.S. The credit provides $1.25 per gallon in 2026, phasing down to $1.05 per gallon by 2030, for fuel that is lead-free, meets aviation standards, and is produced domestically. Producers must register with the IRS and certify compliance with these requirements to claim the credit. The bill also mandates a GAO study to analyze price differences between leaded and unleaded aviation fuel and whether the tax credit benefits end-users. This policy directly affects U.S. aviation fuel producers and aims to accelerate the transition from leaded to unleaded aviation fuel.

HR 2431, the "Don't Cut FAA Workers Act of 2025," prohibits the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) from implementing mass layoffs for one year following a major aviation accident (defined as an accident causing a fatal injury within 30 days). It defines a "mass layoff" as eliminating 10+ employees at a single FAA location or 250+ employees total across the agency within 90 days. The bill requires the FAA Administrator to notify Congress before any such layoff and allows the agency to proceed only if Congress passes a joint resolution approving it within 60 days. This law directly affects FAA employees and ensures congressional oversight of workforce reductions after major aviation incidents.

HR 6267, the Aviation Supply Chain Safety and Security Digitization Act of 2025, directs the Comptroller General to study challenges in adopting digital documentation across the aviation supply chain. The study will examine barriers for manufacturers, repair stations, airlines, and brokers in using digital tools like electronic FAA Form 8130-3, as well as the FAA’s transition from paper records and physical signatures to digital systems. It requires a report within one year of enactment, including recommendations to encourage digital adoption industry-wide and accelerate the FAA’s shift to digital documentation. The bill does not create new regulations but aims to identify pathways for modernizing supply chain verification to combat counterfeit parts. The Transportation Secretary must respond to recommendations within 120 days of the report’s submission.

HR 7191, the Fatigued Pilot Protection Act, requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to update regulations within 180 days of enactment. It mandates that existing flight and duty limitations and rest rules (currently under FAA regulations at 14 CFR Part 117) apply universally to all airline pilots and operators conducting scheduled passenger flights (under FAA regulations at 14 CFR Part 121). This ensures consistent rest requirements for flightcrew members across all airlines operating under Part 121, directly affecting pilots and airlines. The bill does not create new rules but extends the applicability of current rest standards to all relevant airline operations.

Aviation Funding Solvency Act This bill provides continuing appropriations to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) if (1) an appropriations bill for the FAA has not been enacted before a fiscal year begins, or (2) a law making continuing appropriations for the FAA is not in effect. Specifically, the bill provides appropriations from the Aviation Insurance Revolving Fund at the rate of operations that was provided for the prior fiscal year to continue programs, projects, and activities that were funded in the preceding fiscal year. The FAA may use the balance of the fund, minus $1 billion. If the FAA determines that the amounts from the fund are insufficient to continue all programs, projects, or activities, then the FAA must prioritize compensation payments for employees of the Air Traffic Organization (e.g., air traffic controllers). The bill provides the appropriations until the date on which either (1) specified appropriations legislation for the fiscal year becomes law, or (2) a bill making continuing appropriations becomes law. Finally, the bill permanently extends the FAA Non-premium War Risk Insurance Program. This program provides aviation insurance without a premium to eligible air carriers at the request of the Department of Defense or another federal agency, provided that the agency agrees to indemnify the FAA from all losses covered under the insurance. Eligible air carriers include those whose operations are under a federal contract and are necessary for national security or to carry out U.S. foreign policy.