Thune Statement on Establishment of Small Community Air Service Working Group

December 19, 2016

Pierre Mayor Laurie Gill and South Dakota Department of Transportation Program Manager Jack Dokken Selected to Serve on Working Group

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced it had made appointments to the Small Community Air Service Working Group that originated in the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act, of which Thune was the lead Senate sponsor. The provision was ultimately enacted in July. Pierre Mayor Laurie Gill and South Dakota Department of Transportation Program Manager for the Office of Air, Rail, and Transit Jack Dokken were appointed to the working group, which means South Dakota will have a strong voice on these important issues.

“I want to thank Secretary Foxx and his team for making these appointments so the group’s work can get underway and congratulate them particularly for tapping Mayor Laurie Gill as one of their appointees,” said Thune. “Mayor Gill has been a strong leader and vocal advocate for rural air service, and I’m confident she and Jack will work hard in these new roles to help draw attention to the unique needs faced by rural communities throughout South Dakota.”  

The Small Community Air Service Working Group will coordinate with local, state, and federal officials to help develop potential solutions to challenges faced by rural airports and the communities they serve, including reliability of air service and pilot training.

In September, Thune wrote to DOT Secretary Foxx and encouraged him to quickly assemble the working group because “rural communities around the country that have lost, or are being faced with losing, commercial service cannot afford to wait.”

Thune Announces Bipartisan, Bicameral Agreement on Aviation Bill

Thune Announces Bipartisan, Bicameral Agreement on Aviation Bill

“As we face ongoing terrorist threats, this legislation will make significant improvements to airport security and help keep South Dakota families safe while traveling.”

 July 6, 20126

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today announced that House and Senate leaders have reached a bipartisan agreement on an aviation bill that would reauthorize Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs through September 30, 2017, and make several key reforms to security, safety, consumer protection, regulation of unmanned aircraft, and general aviation.

“The bipartisan, bicameral agreement reached today makes important investments in the future and includes numerous consumer protections,” said Thune. “As we face ongoing terrorist threats, this legislation will make significant improvements to airport security and help keep South Dakota families safe while traveling. The sooner we get this bill to the president’s desk, the sooner the FAA can get to work implementing these reforms.”

Thune served as the Senate’s lead negotiator during discussions between the House and Senate.  

Highlights of the House-Senate agreement:

1.      Aviation Security:

Tightens the access controls and employee vetting standards for aviation workers with access to secure and sterile areas of airports, in order to mitigate the insider threat to aviation security.

Strengthens security for foreign airports by requiring comprehensive security assessments for all overseas airports serving the United States and considers the level of information sharing and security capabilities of foreign airports.

Expands the TSA PreCheck program by directing TSA to partner with the private sector to develop enhanced enrollment and vetting methods. By developing and marketing this program, TSA can strengthen security by identifying trusted travelers, while also increasing operational efficiency of checkpoints by providing expedited screening to more passengers.

2.      Aviation Safety: 

 Streamlines processes for approval and interagency cooperation to deploy unmanned aircraft during emergencies, such as disaster responses and wildfires.

 Requires the marking of certain towers to improve their visibility to low-flying aircraft and help prevent accidents.

 Directs the FAA to establish a comprehensive and strategic framework to identify and address cybersecurity risks to the aviation system.

3.      Additional Provisions:

 Directs the Department of Transportation to create a working group on air service to small communities, including consideration of how to improve pilot training.

 Reforms and streamlines the third-class medical certification process.

 Requires air carriers to provide a refund of paid baggage fees when items are lost or unreasonably delayed.

 Requires airlines to generally ensure that children 13 years of age or under are seated adjacent to an adult or older child traveling with them.

Click here for a full summary of the agreement.