Biden Signs Five-Year FAA Reauthorization Bill Into Law

President Joe Biden signed the five-year, bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill on May 16, concluding weeks of congressional negotiations over an industry beset with staffing shortages and safety issues. The bill cleared the House on May 15 with a 387–26 vote after clearing the Senate on May 9 with an 88–4 vote. It reauthorizes FAA programs through fiscal year 2028 with more than $105 billion in agency investments, targeting a 3,000-plus shortage of air traffic controllers with new FAA hiring quotas. The legislation improves FAA safety standards to avoid more near-collisions on airport runways, makes it easier for customers to request and receive refunds for delayed or canceled flights, and adds five new daily roundtrip flights to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in the District of Columbia....