Category: US Senate

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator and pilot Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—and U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) successfully secured a modified version of their legislation, the Emergency Vacating of Aircraft Cabin (EVAC) Act, in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023. This version of the EVAC Act will require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to evaluate its emergency evacuation standards for aircraft to ensure that they reflect real-world conditions, including the presence of carry-on bags and passengers who may be senior citizens, children or persons with disabilities. Right now, the FAA’s standards require that passengers—regardless of age or ability—be able to evacuate aircraft within 90 seconds, but recent simulation testing failed to adequately take into account whether a flight is full or mostly empty, or other basic conditions Americans deal with every time they fly. The FAA reauthorization bill would extend FAA’s funding and authorities through the Fiscal Year 2028.

“With a modified version of my EVAC Act included in the FAA reauthorization bill, we’re sending a clear message: in the event of an emergency, the safety of the flying public comes first,” said Duckworth. “It should not—it cannot—take another tragedy to bring our aircraft evacuation standards up to date. I’m proud to have worked with Senator Baldwin on this important effort to establish an emergency evacuation standard that considers real-life conditions to help make flying safer for all.”

“Every American should be able to fly with dignity and peace of mind knowing that safety protocols are in place that take every passenger into account. Our bill ensures the Federal Aviation Administration considers realistic circumstances like heavy luggage and passengers of different ages, sizes, and abilities when checking whether evacuation and safety plans are effective,” said Baldwin. “I am proud to lead the charge with Senator Duckworth to ensure Americans and their loved are safe while flying and will continue working to get our critical legislation over the finish line as part of the FAA reauthorization bill.”

Included in the evaluation of evacuation standards that the modified EVAC Act would require, would be the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) recommended study on the risk posed by carry-on bags during emergency evacuations. This recommendation came after a 2016 emergency evacuation of an American Airlines 767 at O’Hare.

The FAA limited recent in-person simulations to test subjects who were all adults, under age 60, despite the fact that senior citizens, children and persons with disabilities may also be present on a flight. Additionally, according to CBS News, the tests did not include the presence of obstacles like carry-on baggage that could slow down an evacuation. These tests were also conducted in groups of just 60, while Boeing 737 MAX 8 seating capacity, for instance, ranges from 162 to 178. Then-FAA Administrator Steve Dickson even conceded the tests “provide useful, but not necessarily definitive information…” 

The modified EVAC Act in the FAA reauthorization bill would require modernization and improvements to aircraft evacuation standards by requiring the FAA to conduct a comprehensive study on aircraft evacuation and empanel a committee of experts and stakeholders—including representatives of the disability community, senior citizens and pediatricians—to evaluate gaps in current evacuations standards and operating procedures and make recommendations. Additionally, the FAA would be required to initiate a rulemaking on any recommendations the FAA Administrator deems appropriate.

The FAA would also be required to report study findings, committee recommendations and the Administrator’s plan to implement any such recommendations.

The FAA study on evacuations would include:

• Prospective risk analysis, not just evaluation of past incidents.
• Recommendations for how to improve evacuation regulations and demonstrations to ensure they account for passengers with disabilities, including those who use wheelchairs or other mobility assistive devices.
• Research on risk posed by carry-on bags recommended by NTSB.
• Whether each new generation of aircraft should be required to undergo full-scale in-person evacuation testing.
• An assessment of the following evacuation conditions:

1. Presence of passengers of different ages, including infants, children and senior citizens;
2. Presence of passengers with disabilities;
3. Presence of passengers who have difficulty speaking or are non-verbal;
4. Presence of passengers who do not speak English;
5. Presence of carry-on luggage and personal items such as purse, briefcase or backpack
6. Seat size and spacing;
7. Passenger load; and
8. Presence of service animals.

A bill summary can be found here.

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[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation and Deb Fisher (R-NE), this week introduced the Advanced Aviation Integration Act. The bill would re-designate a portion of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) so the agency is better equipped to tackle the regulatory challenges of emerging aviation technologies. This includes innovations like advanced air mobility, which promises to improve accessibility to underserved communities in rural and urban areas. The bill would also create an online portal at the FAA for all new aircraft certification requests, allowing applicants to monitor their progress.

“I’m proud to partner with Senator Fischer to introduce our bipartisan bill that will focus and enhance our nation’s leadership on Advanced Aviation,” Duckworth said. “As we move into a new era of aviation with rapid technological advancement, such as Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing operations, our legislation will ensure the FAA prioritizes the effective and efficient integration of advanced air mobility aircraft into our National Airspace System.”

“The aviation industry is undergoing an exciting period of innovation, with new technologies emerging nearly every day,” said Fisher. “It’s critical then that the FAA has the right structure and people in place to keep up. Our bipartisan bill would retool the agency so it can more efficiently tackle the regulatory and safety challenges of the future.”

“We applaud Senators Fischer and Duckworth for this bipartisan legislation that provides the FAA with much-needed tools, leadership, and resources to position the United States to remain the leader in aviation safety globally,” said Robert Rose, Co-founder and CEO of Reliable Robotics. “Our nation is at an inflection point for aviation safety, with safety-enhancing technologies that will prevent accidents and save lives within reach for smaller aircraft, and this legislation will accelerate that work.”

Innovation in the aviation sector has led to a growth of new technologies.  The Advanced Aviation Integration Act would:

• Charge the Deputy FAA Administrator to boost coordination across the agency on advanced aviation topics.
• Create an online portal at the FAA for all new aircraft certification requests, allowing applicants to monitor their progress.
• Re-designate the FAA’s office of NextGen as the Office of Advanced Aviation.

Click here to view text of the legislation.

ANDERSON, S.C. – Today, Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) addressed Palmetto Boys State members at Anderson University. As a proud alumnus of Palmetto Boys State ’82, Senator Scott makes it a tradition to support the group, encouraging the young men ahead of their week-long leadership training. The Senator spoke on leadership and shared his keys to a successful life, which include failing forwards, standing up for those who can’t stand for themselves, and having the courage to take risks. 

View the event photo gallery here.

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Town halls from June 23-27 will be in Malheur, Harney, Grant, Baker, Union, Wallowa and Wheeler counties

Portland –  U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he will have seven open-to-all, in-person town halls throughout Eastern Oregon from June 23-27.

Wyden has already held 25 town halls so far throughout Oregon in 2023 – and 1,052 town halls overall statewide in fulfillment of his pledge to hold at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon’s 36 counties.

“Shortening the distance between Oregon and Washington, DC is essential to representing our entire state, and why I hold open-to-all town halls each year in each of Oregon’s 36 counties,” Wyden said. “These seven upcoming town halls in Eastern Oregon will give any Oregonian the opportunity to ask questions, voice opinions and suggest solutions to challenges in local communities, our state and country. That all adds up to the “Oregon Way” – an approach unique to our state and one that shows all of America how democracy works.”  

The schedule for the upcoming town halls is as follows:

• Malheur County, 3:30 pm MT (2:30 pm PT), Friday, June 23, Oregon National Guard Armory, 1330 SW Fourth St, Ontario
• Harney County, 10 am PT, Saturday, June 24, Burns Armory, 619 S Fairview Ave, Burns
• Grant County, 3 pm PT, Saturday, June 24, Grant County Regional Airport, 72000 Airport Rd, John Day
• Baker County, noon PT, Sunday, June 25, Oregon National Guard Armory, 1740 Campbell Street, Baker City
• Wallowa County, 4:30 pm PT, Sunday, June 25, The Place, Corner of Third & South Lake Streets, Joseph
• Union County, 11 am PT, Monday, June 26, Oregon National Guard Armory, 404 12^th Street, La Grande
• Wheeler County, 2 pm PT, Tuesday, June 27 Wheeler High School, 600 B Street, Fossil

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced $1,541,000 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to strengthen healthcare services across West Virginia. The funding will specifically support implementing community-based programs that improve nutrition and reduce obesity, bolstering substance use disorder health services in Parkersburg and advancing critical research into oral diseases and disorders.

“I’m pleased HHS is investing more than $1.5 million in these three critical initiatives that will strengthen healthcare services throughout West Virginia,” said Senator Manchin. “The funding announced today will improve the health and quality of life of West Virginians by expanding community programs that promote nutrition and reduce obesity, as well as bolstering substance use disorder health services and advancing vital research into oral diseases and disorders through West Virginia University. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue advocating for resources to ensure every West Virginian across the Mountain State has the quality, affordable health services they need.”

Individual awards listed below:

• $768,000 – West Virginia University: High Obesity Program (HOP)
• $545,000 – Westbrook Health Services, Parkersburg: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Grant Program
• $228,000 – West Virginia University: Oral Diseases and Disorders Research