Airmen Certificate Accessibility Act

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. BURCHETT. Madam Speaker, dadgum, if I need 5 minutes, pull me off on this one, okay?

First and foremost, I express my deepest sympathies to those good folks who lost their lives at LaGuardia Airport in New York, and I hope we all remember them and their families in our prayers.

I rise today in support of H.R. 2247, the Airmen Certificate Accessibility Act. I guess it should be air people technically. My mama flew an airplane during the Second World War, so I would be remiss if I didn't say that.

Pilots are still required to carry paper copies of their original medical certificates and licenses. The FAA says that this requirement exists mainly because of concerns about forgery, but the FAA already keeps secure electronic records of these certificates.

The Airmen Certificate Accessibility Act would allow pilots to present digital certificates issued by the FAA administrator during inspections.

Now, dadgummit, Madam Speaker, it is ridiculous that Congress has to digitize pilot documentation because unelected bureaucrats decided to invent some unnecessary rules. To me, we shouldn't have to be on the floor of the Congress to do that, but this bill would allow airmen to continue to present physical certificates if they choose, providing flexibility while ensuring security and compliance.

The aviation sector remains burdened by outdated practices in an era of rapid technological advancement.

This commonsense legislation helps modernize the industry, enhances convenience for airmen, and aligns FAA procedures with 21st century standards.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important piece of legislation. I will also thank Noah Hooton in my office who did all of the heavy lifting on that. I appreciate the support from across the aisle.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source