Washington, D.C. –Congressman Rick Berg today announced that the House has passed, with bipartisan support, a long-term Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill that protects North Dakota’s Essential Air Service (EAS) airports and helps advance the development of unmanned aerial technology.

“After 23 temporary extensions, this long-term FAA reauthorization is welcome news for our nation’s aviation industry,” Berg stated. “This extension not only provides long-term support to improve our nation’s aviation infrastructure, but also encourages the further development of unmanned aerial technology and protects North Dakota’s rural airports.  Additionally, this bipartisan agreement provides the aviation industry with the needed certainty to make long-term decisions and begin job-creating construction projects, strengthen aviation safety, and modernize our air traffic control system.”

Berg fought to include language in the FAA reauthorization that advances unmanned aircraft research, development, and training.  A member of the Unmanned Systems Caucus, Berg has spearheaded efforts to allow the FAA to create new test sites to study the effectiveness of allowing UAS to share airspace and runways with commercial aircraft.  The Berg language establishes criteria for the selection of the test sites, which places North Dakota in a prime position to benefit from this testing and potentially be chosen as a testing site.

“North Dakota has shown tremendous leadership in unmanned aerial systems development, research and training,” Berg added. “This technology holds great potential for North Dakota and our nation, and will provide new opportunities for agriculture, education and border security.  The long-term FAA reauthorization will provide our state with the certainty needed to make long-term investments in unmanned aircraft and continue to advance North Dakota’s role as a leader in this technology.”

As a founding member of the House Essential Air Service working group, Berg also fought to protect North Dakota’s rural airports from potential reductions to the EAS program.  Berg directly pressed House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica to ensure that the bill passed by the House today strengthens and maintains the EAS program for North Dakota and other rural airports and provides these airports with certainty for the next four years.

The legislation passed today is a bipartisan, bicameral agreement agreed to January 31 by House and Senate leaders.  The Senate is expected to vote to approve the agreement by February 17, when the current temporary extension expires.

In addition to protections for North Dakota’s rural airports and support for unmanned aerial system advancement, the long-term reauthorization:

• Stimulates private sector job creation in the unmanned aircraft systems industry by setting timelines for FAA action on the safe integration of UASs into the national airspace system.
• Funds safety programs, NextGen air traffic control modernization, and FAA operations through FY 2015.
• Creates and supports jobs by providing stable funding for airport improvements under the Airport Improvement Program.
• Provides in total approximately $13.4 billion for the Airport Improvement Program, $38.3 billion for FAA Operations, $672 million for Research, Engineering & Development, and $10.9 billion for FAA’s Facilities & Equipment account.
• Accelerates deployment of NextGen technologies that will bring significant benefits to the overall U.S. economy – everybody, not just aviation users, benefits from NextGen.
• Strengthen accountability for the progress on the NextGen program.
• Streamlines environmental reviews for new, more efficient flight paths.
• Includes unprecedented labor reforms of the National Mediation Board (NMB).
• Limits efforts by the Obama Administration to over-regulate the lithium battery industry.
• Sets a balanced inspection regime for airliners that are inspected overseas.
• Establishes the process for consolidation of outdated FAA air traffic control facilities.
• Enacts passenger protections to be sure airline passengers are treated fairly when travelling.

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