Legislative Activity

President to Highlight Infrastructure Initiative This Week

President Trump will hold several events this week intended to increase support for his Infrastructure Initiative presumably by providing more details about the proposal.

On Monday, the President will make an announcement at the White House with House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) about the President’s air traffic control (ATC) reform proposal. The proposal was also included in the President’s FY 2018 Budget Proposal released on May 23; a three-page fact-sheet released by the Administration is available here. Very generally, the President proposes to shift day-to-day air traffic management responsibilities from the Federal Aviation Administration to a non-governmental, non-profit corporation.

On Wednesday, the President will travel to Ohio and Kentucky to give a speech about the Nation’s waterways and rural areas. The speech will reportedly include more information on how the Administration plans to support rural and transformative projects.

On Thursday, the President will meet with a bipartisan group of mayors and governors from across the country at the White House to discuss infrastructure issues.

The week will end with a Friday address by the President at the Department of Transportation that will focus on overhauling regulations impacting highway and rail infrastructure projects, including changes to the Federal government’s permitting and approval processes to advance projects more quickly.

The Administration released a six-page fact sheet on the President’s Infrastructure Initiative with his FY 2018 Budget Proposal; the fact-sheet is available here.

FAA Reauthorization Update

The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee will hold hearings on FAA reauthorization this week in anticipation of an FAA reauthorization effort later this year. Secretary of Transportation, Elaine Chao, will testify at both the Senate Commerce Committee hearing on Wednesday, June 7, and the House T&I Committee hearing on Thursday, June 8.

The current FAA authorization expires September 30, and Congress is expected to consider legislation during the summer months. Recently, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune (R-SD) said he intends to have the Committee mark up an FAA reauthorization bill in June and hopes to secure floor consideration in July. However, Chairman Thune also noted that he would like to see the House act on legislation first.

House T&I Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) is expected to advocate for fundamental ATC reform again this Congress, though he has indicated there may be some changes from his proposal in the last Congress that are intended to gain additional support from aviation stakeholders, such as the general aviation community. Chairman Shuster has found some increased support for his ATC reform proposal from the Trump White House, and we anticipate that Secretary Chao may offer support for ATC reform in her testimony before both Committees this week.

This Week’s Hearings:

• On Wednesday, June 7, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee has scheduled a hearing titled “FAA Reauthorization: Administration Perspectives.” The witness will be:

  • The Honorable Elaine Chao, Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation.

• On Wednesday, June 7, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation has scheduled a hearing titled “Building a 21st Century Infrastructure for America: Coast Guard Sea, Land, and Air Capabilities.” The witnesses will be:

  • Vice Admiral Charles W. Ray, Deputy Commandant for Operations, United States Coast Guard;

  • Vice Admiral Sandra L. Stosz, Deputy Commandant for Mission Support, United States Coast Guard;

  • Ms. Marie A. Mak, Director, Acquisition Sourcing & Management Team, Government Accountability Office; and

  • Ms. Cari Thomas, National Executive Director, Navy League of the United States.

• On Thursday, June 8, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee has scheduled a nomination for three candidates to fill positions subject to Senate confirmation. The witnesses will be:

  • Derek Kan, of California, to be Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy;

  • David J. Redl, of New York, to be Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information, Department of Commerce; and

  • Robert L. Sumwalt, III, of South Carolina, to be Member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for a 5-year term expiring December 16, 2021, and to be designated Vice Chairman for a term of 2 years.

• On Thursday, June 8, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has scheduled a hearing titled “Building a 21st Century Infrastructure for America: Federal Aviation Administration Authorization.” The witness will be:

  • The Honorable Elaine Chao, Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation.