Search the Community

I wrote my US Senators immediately upon the heels of Pres. Trump's signing of the ATC privatization memorandum and expressed my concerns relative to the same. I received a response from one Senator, Luther Strange, today. His response, which takes the typical politician position of say nothing in as many words as possible, follows below: Dear Mr. Walker, Thank you for contacting me regarding the oversight and management systems for our national air infrastructure and the re-authorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). I appreciate hearing from you on these important topics. The United States currently enjoys the safest, most reliable air transportation system in the world. From the Air Commerce Act of 1926 to the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, our ability to comprehend and adapt to innovation in aviation enabled our country to become a world leader in air safety, traffic control, and technological integration. To help ensure the system remains responsive, the United States Congress must periodically reauthorize the agencies responsible for overseeing the national air system. With the current authorization set to expire in September of 2017, Congress is currently engaged in this process. Two proposals have been put forward to accomplish this, the 21st Century AIRR Act (H.R. 2997) and the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2017 (S. 1405). The bills propose reforms, reorganizations, and management innovations including ATC restructuring, fuel tax reform, and the codification of rights for airline passengers. At this time, while the relevant committees in the House and Senate have approved both pieces of legislation, they await further action in their respective chambers. As the Senate continues to evaluate S. 1405, the measure under our consideration, know that I remain committed to keeping the American aviation system the safest and most reliable in the world and that your thoughts and views will be in the forefront of my mind. Again, thank you for taking the time to express your views regarding the oversight and management systems for our national air infrastructure. Should you have any other questions, on this or any other issue, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, Luther Strange United States Senator