NBAA and GAMA have welcomed House and Senate negotiators' agreement on a bipartisan, bicameral bill to reauthorise the FAA.

Leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Senate Commerce Committee have reached agreement on a compromise FAA bill, which reflects a number of priorities for which NBAA has advocated. A copy of the legislation, the product of months-long work between the two chambers, has been made public.

"We commend the House and Senate Committees for maintaining a continued focus on passing a multi-year authorisation bill," says NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. "Agreement on the compromise marks a key step in ensuring the FAA has the direction needed for long-term planning, as well as operational safety and targeted investment. We look forward to working with Congress on approval of a final reauthorisation bill."

The measure contains a number of provisions supported by NBAA, including language to expand workforce development programmes, improve aviation safety globally, provide funding for community airports and help integrate sustainable aviation such as advanced air mobility.

The bill now awaits consideration by the Senate, and if approved, the legislation would need to be approved by the House and signed into law by the president. The most recent extension to the FAA authorisation bill, passed in 2018, expires on 10 May.

GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce says: "It is very encouraging to see that US House and Senate aviation committee leaders have been able to work together. This is welcome progress, especially as GAMA members are preparing to take their advocacy efforts directly to lawmakers during our Capitol Hill Day next week. We will be pushing for swift passage of the bill, which will move both the FAA and industry forward by addressing safety issues, improving rule-making and certification processes, strengthening the FAA's international effectiveness, supporting workforce development, maintaining sustainability efforts and fostering innovation.

"We applaud senators Maria Cantwell, Ted Cruz, Tammy Duckworth and Jerry Moran, and representatives Sam Graves, Rick Larsen, Garret Graves and Steve Cohen, and their staff, for their leadership and hard work to put forth a compromise bill that provides long-term direction to the FAA and supports the industry's prioritisation of increasing levels of safety and innovation. We urge the Senate and House to pass this bill before the 10th May expiration of the current authorisation."