Washington, D.C.—The following are opening remarks, as prepared for delivery, from Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Aviation Steve Cohen (D-TN) during today’s hearing titled, “FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024: Stakeholder Perspectives on Implementation One Year Later.”
Find video of Ranking Member Cohen’s opening statement here.
More information on the hearing can be found here.
Ranking Member Cohen:
Thank you, Chairman Nehls.
A little over one year ago, we passed the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024—a landmark law we designed to strengthen every facet of our aviation ecosystem.
This law includes nearly 80 provisions specifically aimed at improving aviation safety in the U.S., while other provisions will advance innovation and build upon the strength of the U.S. aviation economy.
But laws and words alone do not save lives. They require timely and accountable implementation.
And today, sadly, the stakes are higher than ever.
The tragic collision over the Potomac earlier this year and a disturbing rise in near-misses have exposed additional serious vulnerabilities in our system.
These are stark reminders that our work to modernize and secure our aviation infrastructure cannot wait—and that we must remain vigilant in the existing law’s execution, as well as be on the lookout for solutions to new problems.
One of our most urgent needs today is to modernize our air traffic control system.
FAA data and recent assessments show that too many of our systems are outdated, and that controller staffing shortages are stretching an already strained workforce, increasing operational risk.
Nowhere has this been clearer than at Newark Airport, where ATC equipment failures and staffing challenges have disrupted operations and heightened safety concerns.
Congress gave the FAA clear directives through the 2024 Reauthorization to modernize critical infrastructure, expedite deployment of new technologies, and hire and train the next generation of air traffic controllers.
That was not a suggestion—it was a mandate. We need to see results.
At the same time, we must ensure that the FAA keeps pace with emerging technologies like Advanced Air Mobility, drones and autonomous systems.
The 2024 reauthorization laid the groundwork, but delays in regulatory action risk ceding America's leadership in aviation innovation to global competitors. We cannot afford to fall behind.
Equally important is growing our aviation workforce. From pilots and mechanics to controllers and flight attendants, the aviation sector depends on a highly trained, highly skilled workforce. For this reason, Congress included numerous reforms and new programs in the FAA law to help recruit and develop the next generation of aviation professionals.
Unfortunately, the Administration has moved swiftly in the wrong direction, downsizing and terminating the very people and technical expertise responsible for the law’s implementation. It is critical that the FAA reverse this ill-conceived course, and move quickly to implement the carefully constructed provisions of the law.
I look forward to working with Chairman Nehls and our committee leaders—Chairman Graves and Ranking Member Larsen—to begin developing a bipartisan ATC modernization package that ensures our aviation system is the safest, innovative and most resilient in the world.
I appreciate the witnesses for joining us today and look forward to hearing their perspectives on the progress made and the challenges that remain as we continue our oversight of FAA implementation.
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