5.18.24 – 2024 FAA Reauthorization Bill Becomes Law

2024 FAA Reauthorization Bill Becomes Law
Legislation Funds FAA and NTSB Through September 30, 2028

Saturday, May 18, 2024

This week, Congress passed, and President Biden signed, a bipartisan and bicameral agreement to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This long-term legislation equips the FAA with much-needed resources to uphold the safety of our nation’s aviation system, including staffing investments in air traffic controllers and safety inspectors, keeping the FAA up to date with the latest technology, and increased scrutiny on foreign maintenance and repair stations. The mandatory pilot retirement age will remain at age 65.

The APFA Government Affairs Department began working on this bill two years ago, ensuring that Flight Attendant issues and priorities were considered from the earliest stages of bill development. After several short-term FAA funding extensions and many months of bipartisan negotiations, we are reassured that this multi-year bill will empower the FAA with the necessary resources required to sustain the nation’s growing aviation workforce and operations. Flight Attendants also benefit from this bill through numerous provisions including:

FAA REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2024 (H.R. 3935)

• Sec. 321 – Reducing turbulence-related injuries on part 121 aircraft operations
  • Directs FAA to review NTSB recommendations and implement necessary measures
• Sec. 322 – Study on radiation exposure
  • Directs DOT to study radiation exposure onboard aircraft
• Sec. 323 – Study on impacts of temperature in aircraft cabins
  • Establishes first-ever study of safe cabin temperature minimums and maximums
• Sec. 362 – Cabin air safety
  • Mandates FAA study bleed air contaminants in the cabin and issue recommendations
  • Directs the FAA to develop a standardized and centralized system for flight attendants, pilots, and aircraft maintenance technicians to report and track fume and smoke events
• Sec. 365 – Modernization and improvements to aircraft evacuation
  • Requires FAA to study improvements to safety and efficiency of evacuation standards
  • Requires an Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) to review the findings and develop recommendations to improve evacuation standards
• Sec. 367 – Sense of Congress regarding mandated contents of onboard emergency medical kits
  • Recommends expert panel examine and update emergency medical kit contents
• Sec. 368 – Passenger aircraft first aid and emergency medical kit equipment and training
  • Directs FAA to evaluate first aid and emergency medical kit equipment and training
• Sec. 421 – Crewmember pumping guidance
  • Sets guidelines on safe parameters for expressing breastmilk in non-critical phases of flight
• Sec. 427 – Crewmember self-defense training
  • Requires TSA Administrator establish minimum standards for self-defense training, including recurrent training
  • Provides process by which crewmembers may obtain reasonable accommodations to participate in self-defense training courses
• Sec. 432 – Deterring crewmember interference
  • Requires FAA develop standards and best practices for suspected interference with cabin or flight crew, security screening personnel, or flight attendants
  • Requires FAA brief passengers before takeoff that it is against federal law to assault or threaten to assault any individual onboard an aircraft or to interfere with crewmember duties
• Sec. 434 – Employee assault prevention and response plan standards and best practices
  • Requires airlines establish protocols, standards, and training for employees to respond to hostile situations and disruptive behaviors
• Sec. 435 – Formal sexual assault and harassment policies on air carriers
  • Requires airlines to set policy on sexual assault or harassment incidents
• Sec. 1030 – Turbulence research and development
  • Develops measures to mitigate turbulence impact on crewmembers and passengers

Aviation safety must always remain the top focus. APFA applauds Congress for reaching an agreement and passing this major piece of legislation. Long-term funding is critical to the safe and efficient operation of the FAA and the airplanes that we operate. We will continue working with Congress and the FAA to see through to the full implementation of this bill.

In Solidarity,

Allie Malis
Lori Vitto-Glattly
APFA Government Affairs Representatives
[email protected]