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Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.) along with Sens. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) Wednesday sent a letter to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta requesting a review of FAA’s decision to close its Aircraft Registry Office despite its value in protecting national security and highlighted that the office has remained open through previous government shutdowns. 

In the letter, the Senators wrote: “The FAA appears to be handling the current shutdown in a different manner from previous shutdowns, inflicting unnecessary hardship on aviation industries in our country.” 

“[T]he Anti-deficiency Act provides the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the FAA with the necessary authority to staff the Registry because it helps provide vital protection to human life and property. Maintaining this database is necessary for the U.S. to fulfill its ongoing international legal obligations under the Chicago Convention and the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment relating to the registration of aircraft. The Registry is also important to national security. Following the terrorists attacks of September 11, 2001, triennial registration was mandated for all aircraft to help the government identify and mitigate potential terrorist threats. As long as the Registry remains closed, this important anti-terrorism tool will be unavailable to law enforcement officers.” 

The full text of the letter can be viewed by clicking the attached link below.

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