Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 282.
Introduced:Jan 9, 2025
Primary Sponsor
Eric Stephen Schmitt
Senator
Republican
MO
Cosponsors
0
Quick Stats
Policy Area
Science, Technology, Communications
Summary
This bill aims to improve the Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system used by pilots and aviation personnel to receive critical flight safety information. It addresses the system failures that contributed to widespread flight disruptions and seeks to modernize how aviation notices are distributed.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill aims to improve the Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system used by pilots and aviation personnel to receive critical flight safety information. It addresses the system failures that contributed to widespread flight disruptions and seeks to modernize how aviation notices are distributed.
Last updated: 1/5/2026
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Transparency in Bureaucratic Communications Act</strong></p><p>This bill requires federal offices of inspectors general to include in their existing semiannual reports to Congress information about any communications between their department or agency and certain online platforms and services. </p><p>Specifically, such reports must include details on the contents and circumstances of any communication or attempted communication with an internet platform, information content provider, or access software provider. Covered communications include those addressing specific online content, content moderation practices, and any other topic related to a platform's or service's data inputs, algorithms, modeling and simulation processes, analysis tools, or any related tool. </p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Requires FAA to modernize the NOTAM system infrastructure
Addresses vulnerabilities exposed by system failures
Improves reliability of pilot safety information distribution
Mandates regular testing and backup systems
Enhances coordination between FAA and aviation stakeholders
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
Pilots and airlines would benefit from a more reliable system for receiving critical flight information. The 2023 NOTAM system failure caused nationwide flight groundings, highlighting the need for modernization. This would improve aviation safety and reduce the risk of similar disruptions.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Science, Technology, Communications
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
66, 119th Congress (2025). "NOTAM Improvement Act of 2023". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-66
