WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today said that a 14-month extension of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) includes several provisions to make air travel safer for consumers and bolster Mississippi’s aerospace industry. The House-Senate conference agreement, which was passed by the Senate today, now awaits President Obama’s signature to become law.

“I am pleased that an agreement was reached before FAA’s authorization expired on July 15,” Wicker said. “Although I had hoped we would be passing a long-term bill, I am pleased that this measure includes needed airport security reforms, as well as critical infrastructure grants and support for smaller, rural airports. Many airports in our state rely on these grants to provide reliable, affordable, and safe travel for consumers. This is another bipartisan accomplishment achieved by the Republican Congress on behalf of the American people.”

Provisions to strengthen airport security include improving airport employee vetting, expanding enrollment in the TSA PreCheck program to minimize security lines, and enhancing security for international flights bound for the United States. The legislation also addresses growing cybersecurity threats facing aviation and air navigation systems.

As a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Wicker successfully included a measure to create a process that would allow electric utilities to use unmanned aircraft systems in emergency response situations. Rapid restoration of utility services aids in emergency recovery efforts and mitigates the severity of harm suffered during a crisis.