Sharice Davids: Republicans, Democrats worked together to protect Kansas air travelers | Opinion

Like many Kansans, my holiday travel last year was impacted by widespread flight delays and cancellations. And while our country’s skies are recognized as the safest globally thanks to the hard work of pilots and ground crews, we’ve seen a troubling uptick in near-collisions at airports throughout the U.S.

These kinds of disruptions have become far too frequent, costing travelers time and money. It’s a frustrating and concerning reality many of us face, especially as travel ramps up at Kansas City International Airport — the newest and most modern airport in the country.

But what is being done in Congress to protect your safety and bank account when traveling by air?

You probably won’t find that answer while watching the nightly news or scrolling your Twitter feed, but yesterday, Republicans and Democrats in the House came together, without theatrics, to pass bipartisan legislation that reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration. The bill contains provisions that will have a huge impact on our flying experience and the economy in Kansas City and across the country.

As a member of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I’ve been working hard to ensure Kansas voices are heard during the FAA reauthorization process. Many of the priorities I fought for, including protecting Kansans’ financial security and safety and boosting domestic manufacturing, made it into the final bill.

Yesterday’s reauthorization includes consumer protections that require airlines to reimburse passengers for unexpected meal and hotel costs, and to establish policies allowing passengers to sit next to their young children. It also contains improved safety standards for air travel to help decrease airport near-collisions, review airplane emergency medical kits and evacuation procedures, and improve cabin air quality.

Moreover, this bipartisan reauthorization uplifts our local aviation workforce and boosts domestic manufacturing — especially important in Kansas where we have a legacy of aviation manufacturing. It will help ensure more airplanes and their components are made in the United States, not countries like China. The bill also promotes the hiring of more air traffic controllers and strengthens our talent pipeline for pilots, maintenance technicians and aviation manufacturing workers.

Of course, there are parts of the bill I disagree with — that’s the nature of legislating in a bipartisan way. I introduced an amendment that would protect airline price transparency standards so folks know exactly what they are paying for when purchasing a ticket and how much it will cost. I also spoke out against provisions to change pilot age requirements and hope both these provisions are resolved through future negotiations with the Senate.

While we don’t always agree, the Kansas City area is lucky to have federal officials from both sides of the aisle working on this important legislation. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves of Missouri played a key role in drafting a bill that could make it across the finish line with bipartisan support, and Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran is helping lead efforts to pass the Senate’s version. We all understand that the benefits of a strong aviation system extend well beyond a family vacation or work trip. Our overall economy relies heavily on air transport of goods to maintain a reliable domestic supply chain and keep our communities moving.

This week’s passage of the FAA bill is exactly how our federal government should operate: people from both parties coming together to find solutions for the most pressing issues facing folks at home. With pragmatism and compromise, it’s possible to get important work done. We witnessed that firsthand yesterday.

I’m incredibly proud to have worked alongside Republicans and Democrats to support Kansas’ rich heritage of aviation manufacturing and to ensure airline passengers are both safe and treated fairly. I hope bipartisan support continues as the Senate considers its version of the FAA reauthorization and I look forward to working on the final compromise. Together, we can ensure our skies remain safe, passengers are protected financially, and our region’s economy thrives.

Sharice Davids represents Kansas’ 3rd District in the U.S. House of Representatives.