Senate Commerce Committee Advances Shaheen-Backed Legislation to Review and Strengthen FAA’s Safety Management System
(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) applauded the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation’s vote to advance legislation that she helped introduce to improve the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) safety oversight and the agency’s ability to identify and address aviation safety issues. The FAA SMS Compliance Review Act is led by Senator Maria Cantwell, Ranking Member of the committee.
“Increasingly frequent near-misses and close calls over the last several years—coupled with recent aviation tragedies—are important reminders that we must do more to keep our skies safe, and that all starts at the top with the FAA,” said Senator Shaheen. "By establishing an independent panel of experts to make recommendations for an agency-wide safety management system, our legislation would address long-standing concerns at FAA and help keep the flying public safe. I’m glad to see this important legislation was passed with overwhelming bipartisan support out of committee.”
The full text of the bill can be found HERE.
A section by section summary can be found HERE.
The bill directs the FAA to establish an independent expert review panel to make recommendations for a comprehensive, integrated and effective FAA safety management system (SMS) to better predict, manage and mitigate safety risks across the agency.
The FAA SMS Compliance Review Act of 2026 has been endorsed by: The Families of Flight 5342; Tim & Sheri Lilley, parents of Flight 5342 first officer Sam Lilley; Dr. Javier De Luis, Lecturer, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Organization Designation Authorizations (ODA) Expert Panel Member; Dr. Najmedin Meshkati, Professor Civil/Environmental Engineering; Industrial and Systems Engineering; USC Aviation Safety and Security Program University of Southern California, Organization Designation Authorizations (ODA) Expert Panel Member; Bret Oestreich, National President of Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association; the National Air Traffic Controllers Association; Captain Jason Ambrosi, Air Line Pilots Association, International; First Officer Nick Silva, Allied Pilots Association President; and Captain Jody Reven, President, Southwest Airlines Pilots Association.
Senator Shaheen is a firm advocate for aviation safety, including through her work to strengthen the air traffic controller (ATC) workforce. In the wake of last year’s tragic collision at DCA, Shaheen called on the FAA to urgently work with Congress to address staffing shortages. Recently, Shaheen secured language in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations bill to support ATC workforce development. In 2025, Shaheen introduced the Air Traffic Control (ATC) Workforce Development Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation to address ATC staffing shortages, improve working conditions for controllers and ensure the safe transportation of people and goods within U.S. airspace. Shaheen also authored the Air Traffic Controller Hiring Reform Act, which was signed into law as part of the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and required the FAA to prioritize the hiring of veterans and graduates of FAA Certified Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) schools as Air Traffic Controllers.
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