6.11.23 – FAA Reauthorization Bill 2023

FAA Reauthorization Bill 2023

Sunday, June 11, 2023

One of the “must-pass” bills on Capitol Hill this year is an FAA Reauthorization Bill. Current funding for the FAA expires at the end of September, so for the FAA to be able to operate beyond September, a bill must be passed by the deadline. Because Congress must pass this bill, aviation stakeholders, like APFA, have an opportunity to pass pro-Flight Attendant legislation. Recall five years ago the 2018 FAA Reauthorization Bill that served as a vehicle to pass several Flight Attendant priorities into law, including the 10-hour non-reducible FAR minimum rest regulation.

In advance of this major bill, APFA has been advocating for provisions that will help Flight Attendants, but also opposing any provisions that could harm our profession. Some standalone bills that have been introduced in the 118th Congress that we would like included in the final FAA bill package include:

• Cabin Air Safety Act of 2023
• Protection from Abusive Passengers Act
• Emergency Vacating of Aircraft (EVAC) Act
• Air PUMP Act
• Fair and Open Skies Act
• Kids Fly Safe Act
• Naxolone (“Narcan”) on Airplanes bill

In addition, we are working on establishing temperature minimum and maximums in the aircraft cabin and mandating that a study be conducted on the risks of radiation exposure.

APFA strongly OPPOSES any attempt to preempt aviation workers from the benefits of state worker protections and labor laws. State preemption to the Airline Deregulation Act (ADA) is a no-go item in the FAA bill!

Last week, Congress released the first draft of the FAA Reauthorization Bill of 2023. This is the starting point in a process that will include further conversations, lobbying, mark-ups, amendments, your phone calls and letters, and eventually a vote.

Please stay alert to all APFA Government Affairs hotlines and social media (@APFAunity) for “One-Click” action campaigns. We have 26,000 APFA members/constituents in all 50 states and 435 Congressional districts, and Congress will need to hear from each and every one of us!

For a Flight Attendant-friendly Congress, support the APFA PAC today!
www.apfa.org/PAC

In Solidarity,

Allie Malis
APFA Government Affairs Representative

Lori Glattly
APFA Government Affairs Representative

[email protected]