The legislation was introduced by chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa. and passed with a vote of 393-13.
If passed, the bill would give the agency another five years of funding.
“While the bill provides much-needed certainty regarding some aspects of funding and includes several measures that protect travelers and improve the travel experience, the FAA reauthorization bill does not address some of the biggest challenges in aviation: insufficient funding for large hub airports and declining airline options”, U.S. Travel Association Senior Vice President for Government Relations Tori Barnes, said in a statement. Dave Manning, the chairman of the American Trucking Association, was quoted by a TheHill news daily report as saying, referring to the bipartisan amendment on truckers. “I am pleased our bipartisan legislation passed the House and I look forward to continuing my work in the Senate to support women and families at the airport, at home, and in the workplace”.
The U.S. Travel Association, a national, non-profit organization, was critical of the measure.
“As we modernize our airports, we must capitalize on tools that have the ability to increase the lifespan of our current airport infrastructure”.
The Alliance for Aviation Across America however, issued a statement applauding the U.S. House of Representatives for passage of the bill.
ASTA spoke out against the bill’s regulations that it says would make it harder for consumers to comparison-shop airfares as well as require travel agents to make multiple new disclosures, which includes information that airlines are not compelled to share with agents, like ancillary fee data.
Michael McCormick, CEO of the Global Business Travel Association, commended the bill’s passage, saying the “continued investment in the nation’s air traffic system, USA airports and consumer protections are necessary to the long-term health of business travel and the economy”.
Almost 100 amendments were made to the bill before the final vote. It is being reported that the hope is to have the legislation to the Senate in May or June and long-term reauthorization in place by August.
http://newburghgazette.com/2018/04/28/house-passes-bill-including-knights-friendly-airports-for/