AGC of America notched several wins in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization bill from increased funding for runways to authority for new uses of drones – specifically beyond the visual line of sight.

This week the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure advanced its FAA reauthorization bill. AGC of America notched several wins in the bill from increased funding for runways to authority for new uses of drones – specifically beyond the visual line of sight. Please see a table highlighting key provisions, below.

A key provision advocated for by AGC of America was the inclusion of price adjustment clauses. You might recall, there was a ban on these adjustment clauses in Airport Improvement Program projects which caused significant problems for contractors doing airport runway work in 2022. Other notable provisions that the House debated include:

• Adding more slots for flights at Reagan National Airport (the airport used by most Members of Congress, and many have to take a connecting flight as a result);
• Raising the mandatory retirement age for pilots (included in the House bill); and
• Expanding Buy America requirements beyond what was in the IIJA (ultimately not included in either bill).

At the time of print, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation still had not held their markup. Once both committees have approved their legislative proposals they will head to the House and Senate floor for consideration by the full chambers. From there the differences would be negotiated in a conference between the House and Senate. As always, we will keep you updated as this legislation moves forward.

For more information on the House bill click here, and for the Senate bill click here.