The National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) applauded the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation for approving S.1939, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023, which would authorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and associated programs through fiscal year 2028.
“State aviation leaders across the nation are pleased to see this significant progress in the Senate towards passing the FAA Reauthorization bill,” said Greg Pecoraro, President and CEO of NASAO. “We are particularly pleased to see important new financial support for the nation’s airports, as well as provisions to help integrate into the aviation system the exciting new aeronautical technologies that have the potential to change the way we access aviation. We look forward to swift action on the Senate floor, successful negotiations with the House, and final adoption of a bill. Thank you to Chair Cantwell, Ranking Member Cruz, and Senators Duckworth and Moran for their leadership and work on this bill.”
The bill would increase investments in the nation’s public-use airports, including providing more federal support for nonhub and nonprimary airports. It would also establish a grant program to assist with PFAS clean-up efforts at airports stemming from FAA-required use of firefighting foams containing PFAS; increase funding for the Essential Air Service program and Small Community Air Service Development Program, two programs that are critical to ensuring small communities have air service; and provide needed support for Block Grant States, a program that enables certain States to optimize federal and state funding for their airport systems.
