ADVOCATING FOR YOU By Cade Clark, John Shea, and Katia Veraza An Exciting Time
FAA reauthorization bill represents a unique opportunity to define US stance on crucial aviation policies.
D
EDICATED ENTHUSIASTS of Advocating for You have undoubtedly read our discussions about the lead-up to congressional action on
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the 2023 FAA reauthorization bill. Imagine selecting your most-cherished championship game in sports, whether it’s the World Cup, World Series, Super Bowl, or NBA Finals. To aficionados of aviation politics, the reauthorization bill encompasses the excitement of all those games combined. Every few years, Congress must pass leg- islation reauthorizing the FAA. During this period, stakeholders advocate for their pri- orities and address FAA policies that will shape the US aviation industry’s tra- jectory for the duration of the bill, which, in this case, is five years. This bill presents a unique opportunity to define the nation’s stance on cru- cial aviation policies. Matters like advanced air mobility (AAM), work- force development, infra- structure, safety—and more—take center stage as Congress debates incorporating policies related to these issues
into the bill. This is our opportunity to ensure that the voice of vertical aviation is an integral part of the conversation.
A Triumph of Bipartisanship
Amid discussions about these significant policy issues, HAI received welcome news that the House of Representatives had reached bipartisan approval and passed its version of the FAA reauthorization bill, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act. This bill comprises a comprehensive array
12 ROTOR SEPTEMBER 2023
of provisions that affect all aspects of aviation, including the agency’s structure and functions. The significance of this bill’s bipartisan nature should
not be overlooked. Preceding its endorsement of the bill on the House floor, the US House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee provided a remarkable bipartisan vote of 63–0 approving the bill. This triumph of bipartisanship owes its realization to the guidance of the committee’s leadership. HAI extends its gratitude to the House leaders for their commendable bipartisan cooperation, including Sam Graves (R-Mo.-06) and Rick Larsen (D-Wash.-02), the committee’s chair and ranking member, respectively, as well as Garret Graves (R-La.-06) and Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.-09), who respectively hold the positions of chair and ranking member within the Aviation Subcommittee. The general aviation (GA) industry is fortunate to
have these House leaders as champions. Their back- grounds and experience have allowed them to shape provisions that bolster general aviation. Chair Sam Graves, a longtime general aviation pilot, possesses a Piper PA-11 Cub Special, is currently restoring a Beechcraft AT-10, and co-owns a North American T-6 Texan and a Vultee BT-13 Valiant. He also flies the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk and other classic vin- tage aircraft in air shows. Rep. Graves has stated, “GA is foundational to our aviation system. It is where many of our pilots, mechanics, and others begin their careers, gaining valuable experience on their path to professions throughout the industry.” With his deep understanding of aviation, Rep. Graves added the first- ever General Aviation–titled section to the reauthoriza- tion bill. Ranking Member Rick Larsen hails from the Pacific
Northwest, a region steeped in aerospace heritage. He expresses his dedication as “committed to ensuring aviation safety, fostering innovation in the US airspace, improving US competitiveness in the global market,
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