Reps. Speier, Eshoo, Panetta Introduce Legislation to Combat Airplane Noise

Press Release

Congresswoman Jackie Speier (CA-14), Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (CA-18), and Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) introduced eight pieces of legislation to reduce airport noise, prioritize consideration of noise and other environmental concerns and improve the transparency of actions taken by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA):

"For years, constituents have lived with the scourge of airport noise. One sleepless night after another takes a significant toll on an individual's physical health, mental health and emotional well-being." Rep. Speier said. "This year we finally received the results of the long-anticipated FAA Neighborhood Environmental Survey, which showed what so many already knew to be true: residents are annoyed by airplane noise levels far lower than the FAA uses for its current minimum standards. Yet, the FAA continues to shirk its responsibility to the public. That is why I have introduced these eight bills which would direct the FAA to prioritize noise and other environmental concerns, establish an option for nighttime curfews, expand residential noise mitigation, and improve overall transparency and responsiveness by the FAA. San Francisco and Peninsula residents are long overdue for some relief from the constant barrage of flights overhead."

"When the FAA first implemented NextGen, SFO reported a more than 1,000 percent increase in noise complaints," Rep. Eshoo said. "Because of the FAA's inability to act, the need for legislation is urgent, and it's why I'm proud to join with Representatives Speier and Panetta to reintroduce these bills that will address noise and bring much needed relief to our constituents."

"I'm extremely disappointed in the FAA's decision to not move the SERFR flight path as the Select Committee recommended," Rep. Panetta said. "This legislation we introduced strengthens the community engagement process and gives residents more of a voice in these critical safety decisions. We will continue to work to ensure the FAA does the right thing and adopts those recommendations of the Select Committee that are reasonable, feasible, and safe.

Summaries of the bills:

Fairness in Airspace Includes Residents (FAIR) Act, H.R.4925: Amends the FAA's prioritization of U.S. airspace use. Safety in managing U.S. airspace would remain the first priority. Secondary priorities would put noise and health impacts to residents and other environmental concerns on an equal basis with efficiency.

Serious Noise Reduction Efforts Act (SNORE) Act, H.R. 4931: Establishes a program at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to noise insulate 200+ homes per year in specific areas or provide financial support to the cities impacted by noise.

Restore Everyone's Sleep Tonight (REST) Act, H.R. 4929: Allows airports, at their option, to impose a curfew, under specified circumstances, at any time between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m

Responsive Employees Support Productive Educated Congressional Talk (RESPECT) Act, H.R.4928: Requires FAA staff to answer questions submitted in writing by Members of Congress relating to flight procedures or other data affecting their district within 90 days and requires FAA staff to appear at a meeting or town hall with a Member of Congress with 30 days' notice.

Notified Officials to Inform Fully and Impel Educated Decisions (NOTIFIED) Act, H.R.4927: If a new or modified flight path is proposed through the FAA Procedure Based Navigation (PBN) process, the FAA would be required to notify City Councils, Boards of Supervisors, Members of Congress, and Aviation Roundtables within 5 miles of the flight path in question.

All Participating in Process Reaching Informed Solutions for Everyone (APPRISE) Act, H.R. 4924: Ensures that community knowledge and input is represented in the FAA flight procedure design process. An aviation roundtable technical representative will be allowed to fully participate in the FAA procedure design process for procedures affecting their communities.

Low-frequency Energetic Acoustics and Vibrations Exasperate (LEAVE) Act, H.R. 4926: As an airplane leaves from an airport, its takeoff generates significant amounts of ground-based low-frequency noise and vibration impacting residents in the vicinity. The bill would lead to the establishment of standards and remedies related to ground-based noise (GBN).

Southbound HUSSH and NIITE Help Households (SHHH) Act, H.R. 4930: Supports formally continuing the standard processing of the proposed San Francisco International Airport (SFO) NIITE Departure Southbound Transition and the Oakland International Airport (OAK) HUSSH Departure Southbound Transition.

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