June 22, 2017

Today Dina Titus, Representative of Nevada’s First Congressional District, released the following statement in response to the release of the 21st Century Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization (21^st Century AIRR) Act, legislation to reauthorize the programs of the Federal Aviation Administration. The legislation will be considered by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, of which the Congresswoman is a member, on Tuesday, June 27. 

 “This legislation includes a number of important provisions I have fought for to support Nevada’s burgeoning drone industry, strengthen the manufacturing of new aircraft and technologies, and modernize our airport infrastructure,” Rep. Titus said. “Yet for all the good this bill will do for Nevada and our country, the legislation incudes a poison proposal to privatize our nation’s air traffic control system by handing billions of dollars in federal assets to a private corporation, placing passengers and users of the airspace at the mercy of for-profit companies, and putting at risk an airspace that is by far the world’s safest and most complex. I will continue to oppose any and all efforts to privatize our air traffic control system. There are other commonsense steps we can take to reform the budget and procurement process and protect the air traffic control system from partisan politics. These modernizing reforms will not threaten a system that is the envy of the world.”

The 21st Century Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act includes a number of provisions that were spearheaded by the Congresswoman, including:

• Extending the Authorization for the Nevada Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Test Range:
  • The 21^st Century AIRR Act includes Congresswoman Titus’ provision to extend the authorization for the Nevada UAS Test Range for an additional 6 years.
  • This extension ensures that research programs the Nevada Test Range is currently undertaking in partnership with NASA and the FAA to develop low-level air traffic management systems will continue uninterrupted.
• Enhanced Testing Operations on Critical UAS Technology and Operations at Nevada UAS Test Range
  • Encourages testing of advanced UAS operations including beyond-visual-line-of-sight and sense and avoid at the Test Ranges.
  • These kinds of operations and technical capabilities are vital to the evolution of the UAS industry and the safe integration of UAS into the airspace.
• Streamline The Application Process For Critical Airport Modernization Projects
  • The bill includes language sponsored by Congresswoman Titus to streamline the application process for Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) projects at the nation’s airports. PFC’s are the major financing tool to modernize and improve airport infrastructure, but the applications for some PFC projects, especially at large airports like McCarran can take many months or even years to move through the process.
  • The language the Congresswoman secured in the base bill will allow projects at airports large and small to utilize a streamlined pilot program to expedite application review and approval.