Us Congress House Bill HB2618

Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/13/23
• Refer: 4/13/23
• Refer: 4/14/23

Caption

Federal Aviation Administration Engagement and Transparency Act

Impact

If enacted, HB 2618 will introduce substantial changes to the interaction protocol between the FAA and Congress. The results from the mandated study are expected to shed light on operational efficiencies or deficiencies within the FAA, which could lead to legislative reforms based on the findings. The requirement for annual briefings to Congress will further institutionalize the need for ongoing transparency regarding the FAA's programs and objectives. By enforcing a structured framework for responsiveness, the bill aims to create a more transparent and accountable federal agency.

Summary

House Bill 2618, known as the Federal Aviation Administration Engagement and Transparency Act, aims to enhance the accountability and responsiveness of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to Congress. The bill mandates a detailed study by the Comptroller General of the United States on how effectively the FAA's Administrator addresses requests from congressional members. This includes evaluating response times for written inquiries and the scheduling of meetings requested by lawmakers. The objective is to ensure timely and complete communication between the FAA and Congress, thereby improving oversight of aviation regulations and operations.

Contention

While the intent behind HB 2618 might garner bipartisan support for increased transparency, potential dissent may arise regarding the feasibility of the extra bureaucratic measures on the FAA’s operational capacity. Critics may argue that mandating additional reporting requirements could divert valuable resources from core FAA functions, especially at a time when the aviation sector faces numerous challenges. Furthermore, the bill may raise debate around the extent to which Congress should intervene in the operational processes of federal agencies, possibly leading to concerns about overreach.