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House Reauthorizes Federal Aviation Administration

September 27, 2018
(Washington, DC) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement after the House passed H.R. 302, the FAA Reauthorization Act, a 5-year bill to reauthorize programs of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), provide long-term stability for the nation's aviation community, increase investment in airports across the country, improve America's competitiveness in the global aviation sector, strengthen passenger protections, and ensure the safety of the traveling public. Congressman LaMalfa serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which oversees the FAA as well as all airports in the United States.
LaMalfa said: "Leaning on America's long history of skyward innovation and pioneering spirit, the FAA Reauthorization Act is an investment in our future. In addition to providing long term stability for our aviation sector, it improves the quality of life for everyday commercial air travelers and invests in rural airports – including a provision I worked on that will allow the City of Chico to apply for a grant that would return commercial air service to the local airport. This legislation is important for the continued success of American aviation, and it puts passengers and communities first."
Norm Rosene, Co-Founder and Spokesperson for JetChico, said: "JetChico is very excited about this legislation. It will allow the City of Chico to pursue a Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP) grant, which will be used to attract airline service to Chico Municipal Airport. JetChico is extremely grateful to Congressman LaMalfa and his staff for their persistence, and for their continuous support in the important effort to return commercial air service to Butte County."
Small airports, such as Chico Municipal, can apply for a SCASDP grant to help fund the start of a new air travel route. However, an airport can never apply for the same route twice under current rules. In 2006, Chico applied for and was granted funding to start a route to LAX, but never actually used the funds. H.R. 4 alters the SCASDP reapplication rules to allow airports to apply for the same route after 10 years.
Additional highlights of H.R. 302 include:
  • Creates a remote air traffic control tower pilot program to deploy new advanced technologies and lower costs of air traffic control services.
  • Reforms the Federal Contract Tower Program and updates FAA's dated cost benefit analysis for current contract towers.
  • Reauthorizes the Essential Air Service Program and the Small Community Air Service Development Program.
  • Improves rest and duty rules for flight attendants and pilots.
  • Advances low-altitude unmanned aircraft systems traffic management systems and services.
  • Ensures a percentage of assistance provided in the wake of a disaster is invested in pre-disaster hazard mitigation so that state, tribal, and local governments can pre-empt damage and distress resulting from disasters.
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California's First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.
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