Washington, D.C. – The House of Representatives today passed bipartisan legislation by a vote of 393 to 13 that reforms the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), strengthens passenger protections, and improves America’s long-term stability and competitiveness.  Included in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (H.R. 4) were Bost’s amendments directing the Department of Transportation to better comply with “Buy America” requirements and encouraging colleges and universities to partner with aviation companies to promote careers in the industry.

“When American taxpayer dollars are being spent, an effort should be made to spend those in support of American workers,” said Bost.  “As we grow our economy and rehabilitate our nation’s infrastructure, more must be done to ensure that Buy American preference laws are applied to these projects.”

“We applaud Representative Bost for his efforts to make Buy America more transparent. Our nation’s airports should be constructed using American-made steel,” said Scott Boos, Senior Vice President, Alliance for American Manufacturing.

“Domestic content requirements were created by Congress to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent at home, and to preserve jobs and American ingenuity. The Lipinksi/Bost amendment to the FAA reauthorization bill ensures accountability to these laws by making the federal procurement process more transparent.  It reinforces a commitment to sustaining and creating manufacturing jobs through the reinvestment of American taxpayer dollars,” said Thomas J. Gibson, president and CEO, AISI.

“Aviation and aerospace are vitally important to the economies of Southern Illinois and the broader United States,” said Bost. “By encouraging collaboration between educational institutions like SIU Carbondale and the aerospace industry, we can create more jobs and lay the groundwork for a stronger workforce of tomorrow.”

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