Cruz Rises in Favor of Bipartisan Bill Addressing FAA Concerns

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) spoke on the floor of the upper chamber in favor of the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) Reauthorization Act of 2024 on Wednesday. The bill is a bipartisan, bicameral effort that reauthorizes the FAA through the 2028 fiscal year.

However, Sen. Cruz believes that this bill is a win for the state of Texas, especially.

“This bill, negotiated by Chair Cantwell and myself with the leadership of the House Transportation & Infrastructure and Science committees, is a bicameral and a bipartisan accomplishment,” said Sen. Cruz. “It is the culmination of many months of work between us and our staffs and is reflective of the priorities of a great many Senators. On the Republican side alone, more than 200 member priorities were included.”

He continued, “I am especially proud of the numerous provisions that make for a safer and more convenient travel experience for Texans and for consumers across the nation, and for the provisions that will help grow Texas’s thriving aerospace sector. It will make significant strides in aviation safety, the primary mission of the FAA and something I know that all of us care deeply about. It will provide a clear path forward to integrate new advanced aviation technologies and will make it easier for flyers to get upfront information on ticket prices.”

During his remarks on the floor, Cruz addressed some of the traumatic experiences that airplane passengers have encountered in recent months, including some “near-misses” while aircraft were traveling.

“A flurry of near-misses at our nations’ airports, multiple concerning maintenance reports of United Airlines’ flights, and the alarming decompression event of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 have together raised serious concerns with the safety of our airspace. Aviation safety has been, and will continue to be, one of the very top priorities of the Senate Commerce Committee. When the people of Texas board a flight, they expect their flight and their families to be safe,” said Cruz.

He concluded that the aviation system is “more strained than ever” and will need the support of both chambers to address its problems.

“This comprehensive and bipartisan bill bolsters the FAA at a time when the agency needs support. The aviation system is more strained than ever – millions of Americans travel every single day,” said the Texas senator. “Millions of Americans depend on the sector to earn their livelihood. The U.S. aviation sector is the gold standard of safety, and I am proud of the improvements and reforms made in this bill and I look forward to working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advance this bill to final passage.”