Rep. Rooney Issues Statement on Passage of FAA Reauthorization Act

WASHINGTON, April 27 -- Rep. Thomas J. Rooney, R-Florida, issued the following statement on the passage of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act (H.R. 4):

"I am glad the House passed the FAA Reauthorization Act. This bill meets the needs of our regional airports and helps prepare us for future natural disasters in Florida's 17th District and I was proud to support it on the floor today."

H.R. 4 is a bipartisan, five-year bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Transportation to carry out activities related to civil aviation. The Act also tackles the rising costs of disasters in the United States by prioritizing the Disaster Recovery Reform Act, which reforms FEMA's response and recovery program, honing in on pre-disaster planning and mitigation efforts.

"Last year we saw the results of an incredibly active and catastrophic hurricane season," Rooney said. "Hurricane season begins June 1 and Floridians need to be prepared," Rooney said. "This Act will help communities in Florida's 17th District better prepare for, withstand and recover from the next disaster all while encouraging more cost-effective investment of taxpayer dollars before disaster strikes."

The bipartisan FEMA reforms in DRRA will help communities lessen the impacts of future disasters of all types by building smarter and better-constructed buildings before disaster strikes. The Act also speeds recovery by making FEMA's programs more efficient, improving inspections at a faster rate following a natural disaster.