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Lawmaker cites $12.5 billion FAA down payment, presses Secretary Duffy on FY2026 priorities
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Summary
An unidentified member of Congress opened a hearing, thanked Secretary Sean Duffy for testifying and highlighted a $12,500,000,000 down payment in the recent reconciliation bill intended to start modernizing the Federal Aviation Administration's air traffic control systems, the lawmaker said.
An unidentified member of Congress opened a hearing, thanked Secretary Sean Duffy for testifying and highlighted a $12,500,000,000 down payment in the recent reconciliation bill intended to start modernizing the Federal Aviation Administration's air traffic control systems, the lawmaker said.
The lawmaker said the funding should allow the administration to “immediately get to work to replace critical telecommunications infrastructure and radar systems, invest in runway safety and airport surveillance projects, and replace antiquated air traffic control facilities.” The speaker also framed the discussion as part of the committee’s review of the Department of Transportation’s FY2026 budget request.
The member noted the committee had marked the one-year anniversary of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 and summarized provisions the lawmaker described as safety reforms, requirements for FAA planning to modernize ATC, workforce improvements, increased airport funding and a new general aviation title. The lawmaker said the next surface transportation authorization is already under development and is planned for consideration before the end of the year; the current authorization is set to expire next September.
On the highway trust fund, the lawmaker said the committee must “maintain the user pays principle and offer solutions for putting the highway trust fund on a more, sustainable fiscal path.” The speaker framed those priorities — cutting red tape, accelerating project delivery and giving states flexibility — as central goals for the upcoming surface-transportation bill.
The remarks combined description of federal funding provided in the reconciliation bill, a recap of provisions in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 and policy priorities for the next surface transportation reauthorization. The lawmaker concluded, “We have to make America, build again,” and said they look forward to working with Secretary Duffy and the administration on implementation of the FY2026 request and ATC modernization plan.
No formal motions or votes were recorded in the transcript excerpt provided.
