-- This is a very important time to call our Senators and Representatives and ask them to support key amendments to the FAA Reauthorization bill that address the health and environmental impacts of air traffic noise and pollution experienced by communities across the country. These important amendments, sponsored by Representatives Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Karen Bass (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA) and others, are currently in committee. This is your chance to influence the legislation that governs the FAA. REP. KAREN BASS PRESS RELEASE, JULY 20, 2017: As the FAA Reauthorization package makes its way to the House floor, Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) cosponsored 12 amendments aimed at reducing flight noise in Culver City, Baldwin Hills and the West Adams neighborhood. “As the FAA Reauthorization package slowly makes its way to the Floor for final vote, I’ve made sure to cosponsor specific amendments that will decrease noise levels in areas impacted by too-frequent flights and low flight paths,” Rep. Bass said. “I oppose the overall privatization of the FAA but should the bill pass, it’s important that these important provisions are included. I’ve received hundreds of calls and letters about the noise over the past 2 years and hope that these amendments will continue the strong push to mitigate this issue.” In April, Rep. Bass convened FAA and LAWA officials at a townhall specifically hosted to address the issue of flight noise. The townhall resulted in the formation of a Quiet Skies Constituent Task Force for the 37th Congressional District, which keeps the Congresswoman in touch with constituents directly affected by the disruptive effects of airplane noise. IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS COSPONSORED BY REP. KAREN BASS: AMENDMENT 4 Strengthens the required study on the health impacts of airplane flights on residents exposed to a range of noise and air pollution levels from such flights by requiring that the study focuses on residents in at least five metropolitan areas rather than at least one. Includes additional health impacts, such as asthma exacerbation and stress, that are attributable to noise exposure from aircraft flights within the scope of the study. Requires submission of the study to the FAA Administrator not later than two years rather than three. AMENDMENT 5 Directs the FAA Administrator to identify and facilitate opportunities to develop and execute memoranda of understanding between the FAA and state and local authorities that operate airports to reduce the overflight noise impacts of aircraft operations resulting from the implementation of NextGen precision-based Performance Based Navigation (PBN) procedures, including RNAV. Such memoranda would be based on the innovative memorandum of understanding executed between the FAA and the Massachusetts Port Authority to analyze noise reduction opportunities through changes to PBN procedures. AMENDMENT 6 Directs the FAA Administrator to engage and cooperate with air carriers to identify and facilitate opportunities for air carriers to retrofit aircraft with devices that mitigate noise, including vortex generators. AMENDMENT 9 Provides that when proposing a new area navigation departure procedure or amending an existing procedure that would direct aircraft between the surface and 6,000 feet above ground level over noise sensitive areas, the FAA Administrator shall also consider the feasibility of additional alternatives in order to address community noise concerns. Such alternatives include thrust and speed management modification for departures, late turn arrival path procedures, early turn modifications, and waypoint relocation. AMENDMENT 11 Requires the private ATC corporate board to include 2 directors from non-profit public interest groups with expertise in consumer protection to represent the interest of air travelers and to limit the number of directors who represent the passenger air carriers. AMENDMENT 26 Requires the FAA to update its mission statement to include safety as the first priority, and efficiency and the minimization of noise, health, and environmental impacts as the next priorities AMENDMENT 89 Requires a report from the Comptroller General evaluating the health and environmental impacts of greenhouse gas emissions from aircrafts as well as the impact of NextGen implementation on aircraft emissions. ------------------------------------- IMPORTANT: PLEASE ASK OUR REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS TO ALSO RALLY SUPPORT FOR AMENDMENT 50 (filed by Rep. Stephen Lynch), which may help elevate this issue to be recognized as a national public health issue by a panel of independent experts and scientists (see http://aireform.com/list-of-amendments-submitted-to-house-rules-committee-for-h-r-2997/). AMENDMENT 50 Requires the Health and Medicine Division of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, within 30 days of enactment, to convene a committee of experts in health and environmental science to examine the various health impacts of air traffic noise and pollution and prepare and issue a corresponding Expert Consensus Report that sets forth current scientific knowledge relating to the various health impacts of air traffic noise and pollution. ------------------------------------- The amendments are currently in committee and may be voted on any day. The call you make to your Senators and Representatives today may govern the FAA for at least the next 3 years. NOW IS THE RIGHT TIME TO GET BETTER PROTECTIONS WRITTEN INTO LAW! Your Senators and Representatives need to hear from you… Senator Kamala Harris: (213) 894 - 5000 Senator Dianne Feinstein: (310) 914-7300 Representative Karen Bass: (323) 965-1422 For more information on the amendments to the FAA Reauthorization bill: http://aireform.com/list-of-amendments-submitted-to-house-rules-committee-for-h-r-2997/ http://democrats.rules.house.gov/amendment-summary/summary-amendments-submitted-rules-committee-hr-2997-21st-century-aviation