AIRMEN CERTIFICATE ACCESSIBILITY ACT

AIRMEN CERTIFICATE ACCESSIBILITY ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 55 (Tuesday, March 24, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 24, 2026)] [House] [Pages H2660-H2661] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] AIRMEN CERTIFICATE ACCESSIBILITY ACT Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2247) to amend title 49, United States Code, to authorize the use of physical or digital copies of certain certificates for certain Federal Aviation Administration inspections, and for other purposes, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 2247 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Airmen Certificate Accessibility Act''. SEC. 2. ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF CERTIFICATION. (a) In General.--Section 44703 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(m) Sufficiency of Digital and Physical Airman Certificates.--An individual issued a certificate pursuant to this section (including a medical certificate) may present such certificate to an inspector of the Federal Aviation Administration in any of the following formats: ``(1) A physical certificate issued by the Administrator (or his or her designee). ``(2) A digital certificate issued by the Administrator that is stored on an electronic device or, in areas where there is sufficient connectivity to do so, a cloud-based system, and presented in accordance with authentication and verification requirements established by the Administrator.''. (b) Rulemaking.--Not later than November 30, 2028, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall issue a final rule to update regulations in parts 61, 63, 65, 67, and 107 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, to implement the amendments made by this section, and any applicable guidance and policies. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Taylor) and the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Figures) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio. General Leave Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material into the Record on H.R. 2247. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Ohio? There was no objection. Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, H.R. 2247, the Airmen Certificate Accessibility Act, is commonsense legislation that would bring the Federal Aviation Administration into the digital age. In today's digital age, it is past time for the FAA to join the 21st century and allow digital options for airmen certificates. I am supportive of any initiative that safely lowers barriers and ultimately allows more Americans to exercise their freedom to fly. Allowing pilots the option to carry digital copies of their certifications in lieu of paper copies accomplishes that. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 directed the agency to holistically review and digitize processes. The Airmen Certificate Accessibility Act builds upon those efforts and represents an incremental step toward digitization that benefits all users. Madam Speaker, I urge support of this legislation and reserve the balance of my time. Mr. FIGURES. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. [[Page H2661]] Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2247, the Airmen Certificate Accessibility Act, as amended. Current law requires airmen to carry physical versions of their pilot license in case a representative of the FAA ever needs to verify the airman's status. This is despite other important paper documents pilots are required to carry, such as their flight bags or flight books, now being allowed to be carried in a digitized form. The option for airmen to now carry their certificate in a readily accessible digital format is a priority for the aviation community. We have heard them on this issue. H.R. 2247, as amended, combines the necessary safeguards to provide the option for a digital airmen certificate that is issued by the FAA so long as that certificate can be authenticated and verified by an inspector. This digital certificate may be uploaded to a device on the airman's person or, if in the presence of a stable internet connection, be stored and accessed through the cloud. This bill would direct the FAA into rulemaking to ensure these digital certificates are just as secure as their physical originals and establish guidelines for their authentication and verification. By allowing airmen to use a digital certificate in this way, we will continue our efforts to safely and securely modernize the FAA. Madam Speaker, I support this legislation. I thank the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Burchett) for his leadership here, and I urge my colleagues to support this, as well. I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Burchett), the author of this legislation. Mr. BURCHETT. Madam Speaker, dadgum, if I need 5 minutes, pull me off on this one, okay? First and foremost, I express my deepest sympathies to those good folks who lost their lives at LaGuardia Airport in New York, and I hope we all remember them and their families in our prayers. I rise today in support of H.R. 2247, the Airmen Certificate Accessibility Act. I guess it should be air people technically. My mama flew an airplane during the Second World War, so I would be remiss if I didn't say that. Pilots are still required to carry paper copies of their original medical certificates and licenses. The FAA says that this requirement exists mainly because of concerns about forgery, but the FAA already keeps secure electronic records of these certificates. {time} 1700 The Airmen Certificate Accessibility Act would allow pilots to present digital certificates issued by the FAA administrator during inspections. Now, dadgummit, Madam Speaker, it is ridiculous that Congress has to digitize pilot documentation because unelected bureaucrats decided to invent some unnecessary rules. To me, we shouldn't have to be on the floor of the Congress to do that, but this bill would allow airmen to continue to present physical certificates if they choose, providing flexibility while ensuring security and compliance. The aviation sector remains burdened by outdated practices in an era of rapid technological advancement. This commonsense legislation helps modernize the industry, enhances convenience for airmen, and aligns FAA procedures with 21st century standards. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important piece of legislation. I will also thank Noah Hooton in my office who did all of the heavy lifting on that. I appreciate the support from across the aisle. Mr. FIGURES. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I agree with my colleague from Tennessee. This should not take an act of Congress to do, but nevertheless, we are here and we have to do it. I appreciate his work on this issue in making sure that we can balance a long-asked-for convenience to our pilots with the necessary safeguards. That is why I support H.R. 2247, as amended, and urge my colleagues to do the same. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, in closing, I thank Representative Burchett again for his leadership in introducing this commonsense legislation. For decades, pilots have been required to carry physical copies of their certificates, even as aviation has entered the digital age. Allowing pilots the option to carry digital certificates is a simple, safe, and practical step that reduces unnecessary barriers and makes it easier to exercise the freedom to fly. This legislation represents a reasonable, incremental move toward fully digitized systems that benefit all users. Madam Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Taylor) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2247, as amended. The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________

Referenced legislation: HR2247, HR2247