WASHINGTON – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today approved the reauthorization for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and a nomination for promotion in the Coast Guard.

Committee Chairman John Thune (R-S.D.) and Ranking Member Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) provided the following statements on approval of the FAA reauthorization bill.

“Passage of this bipartisan legislation is a win for airline passenger rights, advancing responsible drone usage, boosting the competitiveness of the aerospace industry, and making our skies safer,” said Thune. “I look forward to considering these reforms on the Senate floor and building consensus with our colleagues in the House."

“It’s really encouraging to see the FAA bill pass and have such bipartisan support,” said Nelson. “There are some good provisions in it that will help consumers and improve drone safety.”

Bills and nomination considered are as follows (approved by voice vote unless otherwise noted):

1.    S. 2658, The Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2016, Sponsors: Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.)
                a.    Passed with 53 amendments agreed to en bloc:
                              i.    Thune-Nelson substitute amendment, as modified,
                              ii.    Cantwell 4, as modified
                              iii.    Manchin 1, as modified
                              iv.    McCaskill 1
                              v.    Moran 1
                              vi.    Peters 1, as modified
                              vii.    Schatz 2
                              viii.    Blumenthal 5
                              ix.    Blumenthal 7
                              x.    Blunt 1, as modified
                              xi.    Blunt 3, as modified
                              xii.    Booker 11, as modified
                              xiii.    Cantwell 2, as modified
                              xiv.    Daines 1
                              xv.    Daines 2
                              xvi.    Klobuchar 3, as modified
                              xvii.    Klobuchar 5, as modified
                              xviii.    Markey 5
                              xix.    Markey 6, as modified
                              xx.    Markey 11, as modified
                              xxi.    Markey 12, as modified
                              xxii.    Markey 13
                              xxiii.    Markey 21, as modified
                              xxiv.    Markey 22
                              xxv.    Markey 24, as modified
                              xxvi.    Moran 7, as modified
                              xxvii.    Peters 3, as modified
                              xxviii.    Udall 1, as modified
                              xxix.    Wicker 1, as modified
                              xxx.    Blumenthal 2
                              xxxi.    Blumenthal 31
                              xxxii.    Schatz 3
                              xxxiii.    Daines 4, as modified
                              xxxiv.    Daines 6
                              xxxv.    Fischer 1, as modified
                              xxxvi.    Johnson 1
                              xxxvii.    Moran 5
                              xxxviii.    Moran 9, as modified
                              xxxix.    Ayotte 1, as modified
                              xl.    Blumenthal 14
                              xli.    Booker 1
                              xlii.    Booker 2
                              xliii.    Booker 3
                              xliv.    Booker 6
                              xlv.    Booker 8, as modified
                              xlvi.    Booker 9
                              xlvii.    Cantwell 3, as modified
                              xlviii.    Daines 3, as modified
                              xlix.    Daines 5, as modified
                              l.    Manchin 3
                              li.    Moran 8
                              lii.    Sullivan 1, as modified
                              liii.    Sullivan 2, as modified
                              liv.    Sullivan 4
               b.    Markey 9, agreed to by roll call vote: 13-8
               c.    Heller 1, agreed to by roll call vote: 18-4
               d.    Markey 20, not agreed to by roll call vote: 12-12
               e.    Markey 18, not agreed to by roll call vote: 8-16
               f.    Thune 1, as modified, agreed to
               g.    Moran 2, agreed to

2.    Rear Admiral Karl Schultz, nomination for promotion in the United States Coast Guard

Click here for additional information on nominees.