Update: May 17, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. ET

The U.S. Travel Association was instrumental in defeating a harmful amendment proposed to the FAA bill that threatened to prevent the TSA from using and expanding most automated facial recognition technology at airport checkpoints in America.

U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman called enactment of the legislation ¡°a big step toward vastly improving the travel experience.¡±

U.S. Travel will continue its work to educate members of Congress on the benefits of expanded facial recognition technology¡ªwith the goal of ensuring provisions like the amendment by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) don't threaten progress.

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Original Text

United States President Joe Biden signed the new five-year, $105 billion Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill into law Thursday.

According to Reuters.com, the legislation includes several key regulations for U.S. airlines, including prohibiting carriers from charging fees for families to sit together, requiring planes to install 25-hour cockpit recording devices, and increasing maximum civil penalties for airline consumer violations.

In addition, the new FAA reauthorization adds five daily round-trip takeoff and landing slots at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and gives the federal agency the power to deploy advanced airport surface technology to prevent collisions.

¡°Following flight disruptions, runway close calls and consumer frustrations, this law is set to deliver the safest, most reliable aviation system in the world,¡± Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell said. ¡°Plane manufacturers will see more safety inspectors on factory floors and tougher safety standards from the FAA.¡±

FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker also praised the?new reauthorization, which ¡°allows for more runway safety technology, more air traffic controllers and stronger oversight of aircraft production.¡±

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reauthorization act was sponsored by Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Aviation Subcommittee Chair Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-Kan.).

The legislation prioritizes investments that will strengthen aviation safety, boost consumer protections, grow the aviation safety workforce, advance technology and innovation, and modernize the national airspace system into the future.

While the sweeping legislation will be a major coup for the aviation industry, the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) previously expressed dissatisfaction and frustration over the unfair terms that guarantee automatic refunds to airline customers when their flight is significantly changed or canceled, but leaves travel agencies holding the bag as the merchant of record, rather than the airlines. ?

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