Washington, DC (KELO-AM) South Dakota's John Thune (R), like a happy father, applauded the birth of his baby, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2016, by the U.S. Senate on Tuesday.
Thune had to midwife the massive legislation for months through lawmakers of all stripes hoping for their own amendments, but in the end the legislation passed by a very bi-partisan 93-3 vote.
Thune says the reauthorization makes important reforms to protect consumers and enhance airport security in South Dakota and throughout the United States.
The reauthorization now moves over to the House with its own set of challenges.
"While passing this legislation in the Senate is an important step," Thune says, "we have more work to do. The traveling public will be best served once this bill makes its way to the president’s desk and is signed into law.”
Included in the bill is federal grant money to put more federal transportation security teams in place and to help better secure airport areas outside the screening barriers.
Republican Senator Thune was the lead sponsor and bill manager.
