David Taylor

Mr. TAYLOR

Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material into the Record on H.R. 5663.

Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, travel advisers and ticket agents serve as a critical consumer-facing component of our Nation's air transportation system. Collectively, they sell more than 780,000 airline tickets each day and were responsible for over the $99 billion in airline ticket sales last year. Because they work directly with travelers, they understand firsthand what works well for consumers and what does not. Their perspective deserves to be included when shaping consumer protection regulations. This bill builds on the bipartisan work of this committee during the last Congress. In the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, we reauthorized the Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee, or ACPAC. A similar provision to the ACPAC Modernization Act was included in the House-passed FAA reauthorization but was ultimately removed during conference negotiations. This legislation simply ensures that a representative of ticket agents has a seat on the advisory committee. Madam Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 5663 reflects a simple but important principle. Those who work directly with consumers should have a voice in the policies that affect them. Travel advisers and ticket agents interact with travelers every day, helping families, small businesses, and communities navigate an increasingly complex aviation marketplace. Their practical, real-world experience is invaluable. By adding a representative of ticket agents to the Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee we strengthen the advisory process without expanding bureaucracy or imposing new mandates. This is a measured, bipartisan step that builds on the work we began in the last Congress and ensures the committee benefits from a more complete range of industry and consumer perspectives. Madam Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAYLOR

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6427) to amend title 49, United States Code, to permit the use of State highway standards for airfield pavement construction and improvement under certain circumstances, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material into the Record on H.R. 6427.

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 6427, the Airport Regulatory Relief Act of 2025, is a commonsense piece of legislation that reduces the burden on States seeking to use State highway specifications for airfield projects at nonprimary airports serving smaller aircraft. Our Nation's small and general aviation airports are vital links for rural communities, connecting them to essential services, supporting local jobs, and strengthening the national aviation system. Under current law, States seeking to use State highway pavement standards for airfield projects must formally request approval from the Secretary of Transportation. This legislation cuts unnecessary red tape by allowing States to notify the Secretary, rather than navigate a lengthy approval process. At the same time, the bill preserves safety by maintaining the requirement that the Secretary determine that such standards will not negatively affect aviation safety. By streamlining the process while upholding safety, this legislation will help deliver airfield improvements faster and more efficiently to the communities that need them most. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Begich for his leadership on this issue. I urge support of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Begich), who is the author of this legislation.

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, nonprimary airports play a vital role in connecting rural and underserved communities like mine to essential services, sustaining local jobs, and enabling emergency response capabilities. Cutting red tape helps reduce project delays, lower construction costs, and gives communities faster access to modern, safe airfield infrastructure, allowing limited dollars to stretch further and deliver greater value to passengers and local economies. This commonsense measure reduces the burden on smaller airports seeking to use State highway pavement standards for airfield construction projects. Madam Speaker, I was cosponsor of this legislation. I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAYLOR

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6460) to amend title 49, United States Code, to clarify exceptions for limited recreational operations of unmanned aircraft, and for other purposes.

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material into the Record on H.R. 6460.

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Mann) for his initiative and leadership on this issue. General aviation, including recreational drone operations, are the lifeblood of the American aviation ecosystem. As such, it is of the utmost importance that we protect their access to the sky. Section 928 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 established a novel process by which community-based organizations could seek administrative approval from the FAA to conduct recreational unmanned aircraft systems operations in controlled airspace from a fixed site. If approved, the community-based organization would then work with the appropriate air traffic control facility to establish mutually agreed-upon operating procedures. Unfortunately, when it came to implementing the law, the FAA's interpretation was at odds with congressional intent, and that resulted in recreational UAS clubs being unable to legally fly in certain sectors of class E airspace. H.R. 6460, the Recreational Drone Empowerment Act, represents a commonsense solution to ensure community-based organizations can seek authorization from the FAA to operate legally in all types of class E airspace, as Congress intended. Madam Speaker, I urge support of this legislation and reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Mann), the author of this legislation.

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Madam Speaker, to reiterate, freedom of the skies is an inherently American ideal. This legislation does not require the FAA to approve every community- based organization request. Rather, it provides the FAA with the statutory authority to consider all applications and approve or deny at the agency's discretion. The Recreational Drone Empowerment Act represents a solution oriented to fix, ensure, and protect America's ability to access the airspace. Once again, I thank the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Mann) for his work on this issue. Madam Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAYLOR

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2247) to amend title 49, United States Code, to authorize the use of physical or digital copies of certain certificates for certain Federal Aviation Administration inspections, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material into the Record on H.R. 2247.

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 2247, the Airmen Certificate Accessibility Act, is commonsense legislation that would bring the Federal Aviation Administration into the digital age. In today's digital age, it is past time for the FAA to join the 21st century and allow digital options for airmen certificates. I am supportive of any initiative that safely lowers barriers and ultimately allows more Americans to exercise their freedom to fly. Allowing pilots the option to carry digital copies of their certifications in lieu of paper copies accomplishes that. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 directed the agency to holistically review and digitize processes. The Airmen Certificate Accessibility Act builds upon those efforts and represents an incremental step toward digitization that benefits all users. Madam Speaker, I urge support of this legislation and reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Burchett), the author of this legislation.

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, in closing, I thank Representative Burchett again for his leadership in introducing this commonsense legislation. For decades, pilots have been required to carry physical copies of their certificates, even as aviation has entered the digital age. Allowing pilots the option to carry digital certificates is a simple, safe, and practical step that reduces unnecessary barriers and makes it easier to exercise the freedom to fly. This legislation represents a reasonable, incremental move toward fully digitized systems that benefit all users. Madam Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAYLOR

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3410) to allow for the operation of civil supersonic flight in the national airspace system under certain conditions, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material into the Record on H.R. 3410.

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 3410, the Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act, or the SAM Act, lays the preliminary framework for a return to civil supersonic aircraft operations in the United States. The SAM Act directs the administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to issue or revise current regulations that are outdated and, in some cases, to create an artificial speed limit that hampers American innovation. Despite these restrictions, engine technology has continued to mature and successfully demonstrate that it is feasible to conduct supersonic operations in the National Airspace System without generating a sonic boom that reaches the ground. Furthermore, the SAM Act builds on key work done in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 to usher in a new age of American innovation in the skies. President Trump's executive order titled: ``Leading the World in Supersonic Flight'' documented the importance of American leadership in this reemerging sector of aviation. To that end, the time is now. Let's come together and support American business and innovation. Madam Speaker, I urge support for this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, in closing, I thank Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Representative Nehls for his leadership on this issue. A return of civil supersonic operations within the National Airspace System will reimagine how Americans travel and commute, opening new possibilities for people and commerce to traverse this great Nation. Think of the possibilities: DC to Los Angeles in just 2 hours. While this may seem far-fetched, it is closer to reality than many would believe. In fact, several U.S. airlines already have preorders of supersonic jets. To reiterate, the SAM Act will revise current outdated regulations and place the United States in a prime position to be the global leader in civil supersonic technologies. Madam Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAYLOR

Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6422) to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize certain EPA geographic programs, and for other purposes, as amended.