Congress passes long-awaited FAA reauthorization bill, sends to Biden for signature
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill on Wednesday and sent the bill to President Joe Biden's desk following last week's bipartisan passage in the Senate.
The bill renews the FAA's funding for five years and includes a range of safety measures, consumer protections and measures to fix the nation's chronic shortage of air traffic controllers. It grants more than $105 billion to the agency through fiscal year 2028.
"This bill delivers big wins to Americans," Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash. and chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, said in a statement. "We're going to make sure every tower has more air traffic controllers and our pilots are going to get better training."
Along with funding the FAA's various regulatory and safety-related functions, the bill cements new consumer protections surrounding the right for families with small children to be seated together without paying a fee. It also mandates refunds for delayed and canceled flights, which were initially introduced as a rule by the U.S. Department of Transportation last month.
The new codified standards, which take effect this fall, require airlines to automatically refund passengers to their original form of payment if their flight is canceled or significantly delayed.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., was among several lawmakers who jointly filed a late amendment to the bill to include the refund requirements. Warren told TPG on Tuesday that the senators saw the overwhelmingly positive public response to the announcement of the DOT rules and took an opportunity to cement them in the legislation. Warren's comments came at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) ahead of a flight to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
A long-term reauthorization was widely expected to pass. However, it has been subject to more than a year of back-and-forth debate over various provisions and amounts, Much of this debate occurred while the FAA was without a permanent director. Biden nominated Michael Whitaker to the role in September, and he was confirmed by the Senate a month later.
"I am grateful to Congress for passing this long-term bipartisan legislation, which allows for more runway safety technology, more air traffic controllers, and stronger oversight of aircraft production," Whitaker said in a statement to TPG. "It gives us the stability to ensure we carry out our mission to provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world, even as we facilitate the aviation system of the future."
The funding comes as the FAA steps up its regulatory responsibilities amid a safety crisis at U.S. plane-maker Boeing. The agency has centered safety enforcement squarely in its sights since a Jan. 5 episode in which an unsecured piece of a Boeing 737 MAX 9 fell from an Alaska Airlines flight.
The reauthorization bill also includes a variety of new safety provisions, including a section from Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill. Duckworth called on the agency to test evacuation standards on aircraft using more realistic conditions — including for passengers who have disabilities or are traveling with infants. That standard has come into the spotlight following the prolonged evacuation of a Japan Airlines flight following a fiery crash at the start of this year.
"This FAA package is probably going to be one of the most significant legislative efforts in over a decade to improve the experience for passengers with disabilities," Duckworth told TPG during a phone call on Tuesday, ahead of the House vote.
Other provisions include regulations regarding the storage of wheelchairs aboard flights and regulations regarding passengers with disabilities pre-registering service animals to smooth the process of going through airport security.
The reauthorization also provides funding for the hiring and training of more air traffic controllers; this aims to alleviate an ongoing critical shortage. The FAA has waived "slot" requirements at New York City and Washington, D.C.-area airports in recent years due to the shortage — something airlines have asked the agency to extend through at least 2025.
"For the first time in a long time, we fund the air traffic controller capacity at full capacity," Duckworth said.
The bill also adds five new slot pairs to DCA that are exempt from the so-called 1,250-mile "perimeter rule." The rule limits the distance of flights to and from the airport. It was not immediately clear which airlines would be awarded those slots or which cities they would use them to fly to.
Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, celebrated the provision's passage in a statement to TPG.
Slots and perimeter rules, explained: The little-understood government rule that allows airlines to dominate certain airports
"Increasing flights to our Nation's Capital doesn't benefit one airport, one airline, or any one member of Congress; it creates an open door to Washington, D.C., for every American to see their government at work," Owens said.
Some initial proposals had called for as many as 56 new slots — enough for 28 new round-trip flights — to be added at DCA; the numbers were scaled back during negotiations.
Still, some objected to adding any new operations to the airport.
In a statement, the Coalition to Protect America's Regional Airports described the airport as "overburdened" and said that 56 more flights would have created a safety risk.
In the end, the five additional slot pairs that were approved will add a total of 10 daily flights — or enough for five additional round trips.
"The 10 additional daily DCA flights included in the final bill will undoubtedly lead to further delays, cancellations and congestion on America's busiest runway," the organization said.
Biden is expected to sign the bill in the coming days.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees