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The Senate passed the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act (H.R. 3935), which reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) until 2028. The bill includes several provisions led by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), including an amendment to prohibit civil aviation at Homestead Air Reserve Base which will protect the mission of the base and preserve nearby critical lands from potential development. 

• “The FAA serves a crucial role in making American aviation among the safest in the world, and I’m glad the reauthorization included provisions important to Florida, including my amendment to protect Homestead Air Reserve Base. The military mission at Homestead must be preserved to defend the United States from threats in the Western Hemisphere and to stave off development on crucial lands important to Everglades restoration.” – Senator Rubio

In addition to reauthorizing critical aviation infrastructure and safety programs and protecting Homestead Air reserve Base, the FAA Reauthorization contains several other Rubio-led provisions:

• Prohibition on Use of Federal Funds for Covered Drones: Prohibits FAA funds from being used to purchase unmanned aircraft from any entity domiciled in or controlled by: the People’s Republic of China; the Russian Federation; the Islamic Republic of Iran; the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea; the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; the Republic of Cuba; and, any other country the Secretary of Transportation determines necessary. 

• Prohibition on Use of Federal Funds for Chinese-made Passenger Boarding Bridges: Prohibits Airport Improvement Program funds from being used to procure certain Chinese-made passenger boarding bridges.

• Naloxone Kits: A provision expressing Congress’s intent that required onboard medical kits should contain naloxone kits to treat opioid overdoses. The provision directs the FAA Administrator to promulgate a rule requiring medical kits to contain naloxone kits to combat the opioid crisis. 

The bill now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Want more information?

• May 2024: Rubio Files Amendments to Federal Aviation Bill
• March 2024: ICYMI: Rubio: Protect Homestead Air Base to Secure America’s Future
• February 2022: Rubio, Scott, Cotton, Stefanik Introduce Legislation to Counter Chinese Drones
• November 2021: ICYMI: Rubio & Cava: Restore the Everglades to Protect Our Drinking Water & Florida’s Future
• December 2019: Rubio, Scott, Diaz-Balart Urge Miami Int’l Airport to Protect American Aviation and Security Networks from China