FAA bill set to improve flight safety, experience
By The Herald Editorial Board
Blame our short attention spans and our fascination with low-stakes, high-drama verbal exchanges, but in the last couple of weeks you’ve probably heard more about the shade thrown between two members of the U.S. House than you have regarding a piece of legislation that carries far more importance for our daily lives, especially for those traveling by air with any frequency.
Not to bat an eyelash — fake or otherwise — at that exchange, but suffice to say that it’s what we’ve come to expect of a Congress that ranks among the least productive in modern history, if we’re counting adopted legislation sent to the president’s desk and not viral moments on social media.
But it’s that lack of production — and the slim majorities in both House and Senate that are partly responsible for this Congress’ meager record — that makes the reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration worthy of notice, beyond what the legislation provides.
The FAA, reaching back nearly 100 years to passage of the Air Commerce Act of 1926, is the federal agency responsible for securing the safety and efficiency of air transportation. With its reauthorization up for consideration every five years, Congress uses the opportunity to adopt new policy and make investments in the industry and its infrastructure.
https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/editorial-faa-bill-set-to-improve-flight-safety-experience/