Aug. 4, 2021
The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act now under consideration in the U.S. Senate includes several NBAA-supported measures, including a program to raise awareness of the career opportunities available in aviation.
The NBAA-championed Promoting Service in Transportation Act authorizes the Department of Transportation to develop a series of targeted broadcast, digital and print public-service announcements to promote jobs throughout the transportation sector, including aviation. The bill further aims to foster diversity and inclusion across the industry.
The legislation was reintroduced in the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee earlier this year as H.R. 3310 by Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Rick Larsen (D-2-WA), Rep. Don Young (R-AK) and Rep. Angie Craig (D-2-MN). The Senate bill, S.1681, was introduced by Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK).
“We are pleased to see this important initiative move forward as part of the bipartisan infrastructure bill,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “We thank the bill’s sponsors and Senate leaders for recognizing the need to attract a new and diverse generation of professionals to business aviation, and the broader transportation sector, to fuel our industry’s re-emergence from the pandemic and propel us into the future.”
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act also includes significant funding for the Airport Improvement Program, including $500 million for general aviation airports, and provides $5 billion to the FAA over the next five years for towers and other ATC facilities – including dedicated funds for the federal contract tower program – to bolster the national airspace system.
The bill would also spur next-generation transit programs, including the development of advanced air mobility (AAM), as supported by NBAA. The Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grant Program authorizes $100 million annual investments over the next five years for cities to conduct demonstration projects for “smart city technologies” to improve transportation efficiency and safety.
NBAA will keep members informed as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is considered in the Senate before moving to the House.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.