Q: What’s your recent work on behalf of Iowa airports and sustainable aviation fuel?
A: Throughout my service in the U.S. Senate, I make it my business to ensure the people’s business is managed effectively throughout the federal bureaucracy. From tracking taxpayer dollars to holding federal agencies accountable for the services they provide the American people, my legislative and oversight work includes keeping tabs on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA oversees aviation safety, manages commercial airspace, operates air traffic control systems, enforces regulations for the manufacturing and operation of aircraft and distributes funds appropriated by Congress for U.S. airports, from infrastructure improvements to federal grants such as the Small Community Air Service Development grant recently awarded to Dubuque. In the last year, air travel has recovered to its pre-pandemic levels as more Americans return to the skies to reach their destinations for work, travel and leisure. According to the Iowa Department of Transportation, Iowa has 104 public-owned airports with eight providing commercial service and 96 general aviation airports.
During my annual 99 county meetings and discussions on Capitol Hill with local economic development leaders, Iowans tell me how vital air service is to their communities and regional economic vitality. That’s one of the many reasons I supported the bipartisan infrastructure law that already has delivered tens of millions of dollars to Iowa to help address aging infrastructure, strengthen aviation safety and improve the passenger experience at more than 20 airports across the state, from municipal to regional and international airports, including Fort Dodge, Sioux City, Des Moines, Council Bluffs, Dubuque and Cedar Rapids. Before May 10, Congress needs to pass the five-year FAA reauthorization that includes vital funding for Air Traffic Control and resources available for Iowa airports, including Airport Improvement grants. I’ll also push to include bipartisan legislation to address airline flight cancellations caused by the shortage of pilots. Previously, I supported funding for FAA workforce development grants that recently were awarded to three Iowa community colleges to expand aviation training programs. Through my committee assignment on the Senate Agriculture Committee, I’m also leading bipartisan efforts to ensure homegrown biofuels get a fair shake to contribute to cleaner fuel in the skies. Tapping biofuels to ramp up Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) production is sound science and makes common sense. American biofuels have proven environmental benefits and can help power commercial aviation to advance emissions goals, boost the rural economy and strengthen geopolitical objectives. I’ll continue pressing the USDA and EPA on this policy and have co-sponsored the bipartisan Farm to Fly Act to help accelerate investment in clean aviation fuels.
Q: What’s the connection between the FAA and drug cartels?
A: More than a decade ago, the FAA was warned about vulnerabilities in its system that approves registration of aircraft with the U.S. government. Bad actors took advantage of lax FAA processes to obtain U.S. tail numbers on airplanes used for their criminal enterprise. In 2020, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) flagged the issue once again and recommended the FAA make 15 corrections to its registration process. But the FAA dragged its feet, implementing just three of the 15 recommendations. In April, I released a report that examined how drug cartels exploit the FAA’s registration process for illicit gain. Transnational crime rings use shell companies to dupe the federal agency into rubber stamping registrations for their drug-running aircraft. They’re using American planes as couriers to move drugs through airspace, shielded from law enforcement scrutiny by the U.S. tail numbers.
As co-chair of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, I shed light on the chaos taking place in Central America at a recent congressional hearing and asked if the FAA had tightened gaps to deny terrorists from registering aircraft. The GAO witness who leads its Forensic Audits and Investigative Service department testified the FAA likely doesn’t know. I’ll continue leading efforts to hold the FAA accountable so it does its job to protect airspace from drug cartels and terrorists that put U.S. national security and American lives at risk.
Q: What other aviation matters are on your radar?
A: It’s my constitutional responsibility to serve as an effective check on the executive branch of government, including operations at the FAA and investigative work by the FBI and National Safety Transportation Board (NTSB). Americans deserve peace of mind and full confidence in air transportation. From my oversight investigation 25 years ago, I pushed for unfettered cooperation between airline manufacturers and government authorities to ensure aviation safety is never compromised. As a champion for whistleblowers, I’ll be closely tracking the congressional hearings next week on the safety of U.S. aircraft.