Rubio-led provisions included in Senate FAA reauthorization bill

The Senate adopted the Ensuring growth and strong leadership under the American Aviation Act (HR 3935), which reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through 2028. The bill includes several provisions led by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), including an amendment to ban civil aviation at the Air Reserve Base of Homestead, which will protect the base’s mission and preserve critical lands nearby from potential development.

• “The FAA plays a crucial role in making America’s aviation one of the safest in the world, and I am pleased that the reauthorization includes important provisions for Florida, including my amendment to protect the Air Reserve Base of Homestead. The military mission at Homestead must be preserved to defend the United States against threats in the Western Hemisphere and to prevent development on lands crucial to Everglades restoration. » – Senator Rubio

In addition to reauthorizing critical aviation infrastructure and safety programs and protecting Homestead Air Reserve Base, the FAA reauthorization contains several other provisions spearheaded by Rubio:

• Prohibition on the use of federal funds for covered drones: Prohibits FAA funds from being used to purchase unmanned aircraft from any entity domiciled or controlled by: the People’s Republic of China; The Russian Federation; the Islamic Republic of Iran; the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea; the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; the Republic of Cuba; and any other country that the Secretary of Transportation deems necessary.

• Ban on using federal funds for Chinese-made boarding bridges: Prohibits Airport Improvement Program funds from being used to purchase certain Chinese-made boarding bridges.

• Naloxone kits: A provision expressing Congressional intent that onboard medical kits should contain naloxone kits to treat opioid overdoses. The provision directs the FAA Administrator to promulgate a rule requiring medical kits to contain naloxone kits to combat the opioid crisis.

The bill now moves to the U.S. House of Representatives.

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