Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act
A Democratic bill with 2 Republican cosponsors · See all 5 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act" requires the FAA Administrator to review and potentially update policies and regulations regarding low-altitude airspace safety. The review focuses on identifying improvements for things like markings on slacklines and temporary obstructions. The Administrator must consult with various aviation stakeholders and consider better coordination with land management agencies. If the review finds that current policies are inadequate, the Administrator must update the regulations or guidance. Finally, the Administrator must brief relevant Congressional committees on the findings and any recommended legislative actions.
Yes
- Scored +5
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?
Improves coordination between the FAA and land management agencies like the NPS and BLM regarding aviation hazards.
- Scored +3
Would farmers be better off under this?
Agricultural aviation operators are listed as key stakeholders in the safety review process.
- Scored +2
Does this give the federal government more power?
Directs the FAA Administrator to review and potentially update federal regulations and guidance.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Reduced Risk of Aircraft Strikes: By reviewing if policies for marking and lighting slacklines and other temporary obstructions are effective, the bill aims to reduce the risk of low-altitude aircraft strikes (Section 2(a)(2)(A)).
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Better Flight Information: The bill looks for ways to improve digital depictions of obstacle data and aeronautical information for tools used by the industry, such as electronic flight bags and avionics systems (Section 2(a)(2)(B)).
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Improved Agency Coordination: The bill seeks to improve coordination between the FAA and land management agencies, such as the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management, regarding activities that create aviation hazards (Section 2(a)(2)(C)).
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Increased Public Awareness: The bill considers improving FAA outreach to non-aviation communities that may create hazards in the airspace to help them comply with requirements (Section 2(a)(2)(E)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Increased Penalties: The bill requires the Administrator to consider if existing penalties for violating low-altitude airspace requirements are sufficient, which could lead to stricter or higher penalties (Section 2(a)(2)(D)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — Improves coordination between the FAA and land management agencies like the NPS and BLM regarding aviation hazards.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would farmers be better off under this? — Agricultural aviation operators are listed as key stakeholders in the safety review process.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — Directs the FAA Administrator to review and potentially update federal regulations and guidance.
- 7/22/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/15/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
John CurtisRepublican · Utah
Ruben GallegoDemocrat · Arizona
Mark KellyDemocrat · Arizona
Tim SheehyRepublican · Montana
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon