House Transportation and Infrastructure committee advances package of aviation, water and GSA measures

The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on Monday advanced a package of bipartisan measures addressing water program reauthorizations, aviation safety and digitization, drone operations, railroad safety and General Services Administration (GSA) oversight, reporting each to the House by voice vote.

Chairman Graves opened the markup and, after a series of brief exchanges, the committee considered and favorably reported HR 6422, the American Water Stewardship Act, which combines six stand‑alone bills to reauthorize EPA regional and geographic programs such as the National Estuary Program and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). Representative Stauber, who offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute that served as the base text, said the package “brings together 6 stand alone bills to reauthorize and strengthen key EPA water quality and ecosystems restoration programs” and pointed to program oversight via a GAO reporting requirement. Ranking Member Larson and other members emphasized local benefits for shoreline communities and restoration projects supporting flood protection and local economies.

The committee also moved several aviation measures. Representative Knott (as introduced in the hearing) described HR 6267, the Aviation Supply Chain Safety and Security Digitization Act, as a response to recent incidents in which parts’ documentation did not match the parts’ condition and urged a GAO study of barriers to digitizing FAA paperwork, including Authorized Release Certificates (ARCs). “ARCs and similar certificates represent a weak link in our supply chain security today,” he said, adding that the 2023 discovery prompted industry and regulator action. The measure was favorably reported.

Other aviation measures advanced include HR 5663 (the Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee Modernization Act), which would add a travel‑agent representative to the advisory committee; HR 6427 (Airport Regulatory Relief Act), which would let certain nonprimary airports use state highway pavement standards for projects serving lighter aircraft subject to DOT safety determinations; HR 6460 (Recreational Drone Empowerment Act), which clarifies FAA authority to authorize community model‑aircraft operations in certain Class E airspace; and HR 6086 (Aviation Funding Solvency Act), which would permit the FAA to use the Aviation Insurance Revolving Fund (the War Risk Program) to pay critical personnel during a lapse in appropriations while preserving guardrails to maintain fund health. Committee members repeatedly cited the harms of the 43‑day shutdown and endorsed the funding‑solvency measure to protect air traffic controllers and other FAA staff.

The markup also advanced HR 3410 (Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act), with members stressing innovation guardrails for noise and safety, and HR 5783 (Safe Tracks Act), which requires the Federal Railroad Administration to report on state efforts to reduce pedestrian fatalities and suicides along railroad rights‑of‑way.

On oversight of federal property, the committee favorably reported HR 6480 directing the General Services Administration to resume an annual “state of the portfolio” report on the Public Buildings Service and HR 6481, the Federal Building Threat Notification Act, directing the GSA and the Federal Protective Service to issue emergency‑communication guidance for GSA‑owned buildings. Members discussed specific GSA projects, including en‑bloc resolutions authorizing renovation work on the Ronald Reagan Federal Building in Washington, D.C., and design authorization for a new courthouse in San Juan, Puerto Rico; the en‑bloc resolutions were approved.

Votes at a glance (committee action): - HR 6422, American Water Stewardship Act — amendment in nature of a substitute adopted; HR 6422 as amended agreed to and ordered favorably reported (voice vote). - HR 6267, Aviation Supply Chain Safety and Security Digitization Act — agreed to and favorably reported (voice vote). - HR 5663, ACPAC Modernization Act — amendment in the nature of a substitute adopted; HR 5663 as amended agreed to and favorably reported (voice vote). - HR 6427, Airport Regulatory Relief Act — amendment in the nature of a substitute adopted; HR 6427 as amended agreed to and and favorably reported (voice vote). - HR 6460, Recreational Drone Empowerment Act — agreed to and favorably reported (voice vote). - HR 6086, Aviation Funding Solvency Act — amendment in the nature of a substitute adopted; HR 6086 as amended agreed to and favorably reported (voice vote). - HR 3410, Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act — amendment adopted; HR 3410 as amended agreed to and favorably reported (voice vote). - HR 5783, Safe Tracks Act — agreed to and favorably reported (voice vote). - HR 6480, GSA state of portfolio report — agreed to and favorably reported (voice vote). - HR 6481, Federal Building Threat Notification Act — agreed to and favorably reported (voice vote). - Three GSA capital investment leasing resolutions (Reagan Building alteration/renovation; San Juan courthouse design) — considered en bloc and approved.

Why it matters: The committee advanced measures that would maintain funding and safety continuity for aviation workers during a shutdown, strengthen supply‑chain documentation to guard against counterfeit parts, expand consumer representation on the ACPAC body, clarify FAA authority for recreational drone authorizations, reauthorize EPA regional water programs that fund local restoration work, and increase congressional oversight of GSA real property and building safety procedures. Taken together, the package affects federal program funding, aviation safety and operations, federal property management and local infrastructure investments.

What’s next: Each measure reported favorably will be placed on the House floor schedule according to House procedures and the availability of floor time. The committee authorized staff to make technical, conforming changes to reflect actions taken in markup and granted the chairman authority to offer necessary motions in the House to proceed to conference on related measures.