Recent Press Releases

Thune’s Bipartisan Aviation Bill Would Keep Airline Passengers Safe

“Airline passengers deserve more transparency, and the future of aviation needs a plan. And we have one in the U.S. Senate.”

April 11, 2016

WASHINGTON — 

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today released a brief video outlining his vision for the future of aviation. Thune is the lead sponsor and bill manager of S. 2658, the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2016, which is under consideration in the Senate this week. Enhancing aviation security has been a priority for Thune, and his amendment that would take important steps toward protecting the traveling public and tightening the vetting process for airport workers was recently added to S. 2658.

Video transcript:

“Over the past century, our primary mode of transportation has evolved from a horse and carriage, to railroads, to highways and airplanes. Now more and more people fly, and it’s safer and more accessible than ever. 

“I am no stranger to the issues facing passengers. I commute weekly from my home in South Dakota to Washington, D.C., to serve as chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee.

“How we get from point A to point B has vastly changed, and with it new transportation and consumer issues need to be addressed. While we’ve come a long way, we still have a way to go.

“In the Senate, we wrote one of the most passenger-friendly aviation bills in a generation.

“The bill standardizes fee disclosures across air carriers. It makes it easier to get a refund when airlines fail to deliver.

“And this bill improves airports, drone safety, and supports U.S. jobs while boosting competitiveness.

“Airline passengers deserve more transparency, and the future of aviation needs a plan. And we have one in the U.S. Senate.”

For more information about S. 2658, visit www.commerce.senate.gov/faa.