Central ND News

The U.S. Senate has passed legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) through 2028. The legislation was approved by a vote of 88-4.

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) expressed his support for the bill, stating, "The FAA has to be authorized to operate, and every five years, we have a responsibility to ensure it has the tools to effectively oversee and manage our national aviation system. North Dakota depends on safe and efficient aviation. Our state’s economy relies on airports being open and air traffic controllers to help manage the flights."

Cramer emphasized the importance of aviation in North Dakota due to its geographical location, stating that they are "landlocked in the middle of the North American continent, making interstate commerce and travel vital to the success of our state." He added that airports play a central role in ensuring both goods and people can get around.

He also highlighted the connection between North Dakota's aviation ecosystem and the FAA, mentioning initiatives such as "the University of North Dakota’s partnership with the FAA Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems" and "the Northern Plains UAS test site."

According to Cramer, this bill not only reauthorizes operations but also strengthens their workforce by providing new opportunities for flight schools like UND and improving staffing levels at all air traffic control towers. He concluded by expressing gratitude towards his fellow senators for passing the bill.