Dallas City Wire

WASHINGTON – On July 11, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (TX-30) submitted three amendments to the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act. These amendments would be be aimed at growing and boosting diversity in the aviation workforce and supporting reliever airports like Dallas Executive Airport.

"The aviation field is experiencing unprecedented workforce shortages, with a pilot shortage at 15,000 and counting - and the American people are feeling the pain. Flight cancellations and hours-long delays are becoming the norm, and it's costing all of us time, money, and patience," said Rep. Crockett. "Furthermore, over 80% of American pilots are white - further contributing to our pilot shortage. That's why I'm supporting legislation to attract more young Americans of diverse backgrounds into pilot training programs, including scholarships to Historically Black Colleges and Universities with aviation programs. I'm also introducing an amendment to support our reliever airports like Dallas Executive - important institutions that reduce the load at larger airports and cut down on travel delays. I look forward to advocating for these critical amendments that would respond to the issues plaguing air travel today."

 

Representative Crockett filed the following three amendments to the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act considered in the House Committee on Rules:

Amendment 41: Allows funds administered by the FAA to support pilot scholarships. At a time when we are facing a pilot shortage, Crockett is fighting to get young people and working class people to become pilots. Not only does this make sure our flights in the future will face fewer delays and cancellations, but it paves a path to lift more people into the upper-middle class.

Amendment 42: Requires 20% of FAA scholarship money to go to HBCUs or HSIs. Today, over 80% of pilots are white, and the rest of the aviation field isn’t much more diverse. As we are facing a pilot shortage, we know that we can’t go back to the same old recruitment channels that led us here. If we are going to solve the shortage, we need a diverse workforce. Moreover, Crockett is fighting for this amendment to strengthen our diverse institutions of higher education and open the pathway to opportunity to everyone.

Amendment 53: Establishes a separate source of funding for reliever airports, so these smaller airports aren’t competing against the larger airports for the same Airport Improvement Grants. Reliever airports are small airports that reduce load at major airports. Ensuring they are fully funded is essential to reducing delays and cancellations. While the current bill would have gotten rid of a small version of the program that currently exists, Crockett’s amendment restores and grows the program and allows more reliever airports to participate, while prioritizing reliever airports in congested areas.

Original source can be found here.