This afternoon, the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee announced a mark-up of the ALERT Act, comprehensive aviation safety legislation introduced in February by Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA) and endorsed by NATA. On Thursday, the Committee will consider an updated version of the bill, following discussions with the NTSB and families of the Flight 5342 victims. NATA is still analyzing the new legislative text, but members can read NATA’s statement about the original bill here.
Nearly 40 days since Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations lapsed, the TSA and other DHS agencies continue without funding and with no clear path for resolution. With TSA screeners missing two paychecks and delays mounting at airport security checkpoints, proposals to fund some DHS agencies have yet to find consensus with Senate Democrats, Republicans, and the White House. Yesterday’s confirmation of Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) as DHS Secretary saw two Democratic Senators joining Republicans in a 54-45 vote, but the White House’s replacement of former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has not broken the funding impasse. NATA continues to advocate for immediate funding of the TSA’s critical aviation security services, as well as the other DHS agencies that keep our aviation system safe and secure.