PASSED: Davids' Bipartisan Bill to Advance New Aviation Technology Heads to President's Desk

Press Release

Yesterday, the Senate passed Representative Sharice Davids' bipartisan bill to advance innovative new aviation technology. The bill now heads to President Biden's desk to be signed into law. Davids, who serves as Vice Chair of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, introduced the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act last year with Ranking Member of the Aviation Subcommittee Garret Graves (R-LA). Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) sponsored the companion bill in the Senate.

"As Kansans, we are used to leading the nation in aviation manufacturing with our skilled workforce and emerging technologies," said Davids. "I am very excited that my bipartisan bill to harness the power of advanced air mobility is heading to the President's desk to be signed into law. I look forward to bringing industry and federal agency leaders together and will continue promoting U.S. and Kansas leadership in aviation."

"This bill is a gamechanger for how we develop new transportation options, help with the future ways we move goods, and create new jobs. It will also support our emergency preparedness and disaster relief efforts. The time is fast approaching for ways the federal government will have to plan for new and emerging aviation technology which could positively disrupt existing ways of life. We should be taking the steps now to mitigate and integrate the benefits, instead of waiting for the positive disruption caused by future technology, and ensuring our existing transportation and infrastructure systems have the right preparation. This bipartisan legislation pushes the United States forward in the right direction and bolsters our global leadership in this transformative space. This is a great bill and glad to have worked with Congresswoman Sharice Davids to get it over the finish line," said Representative Garret Graves.

Advanced air mobility (AAM) is an emerging sector of the aviation industry that creates an entirely new mode of transportation, using specialized vehicles to transport people and cargo between places previously not served by aviation, including both urban and rural areas. AAM will expand sustainable regional transportation options, offer new ways to move goods, create skilled jobs in Kansas' aviation industry, and boost emergency preparedness and competitiveness.

Davids' bipartisan bill would develop an AAM interagency working group, comprised of federal agency and civil aviation industry leaders, that will review policies and make recommendations to advance this emerging technology. By facilitating the coordination of government and industry, this bill will help harness the potential of this rapidly developing and transformative technology for the benefit of American industry. Estimates predict that AAM will be a $115 billion market by 2035, creating more than 280,000 high-paying jobs in the U.S. alone.

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