Last week the House passed, and I supported, a major boost for American infrastructure.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act is the first major installment in a larger infrastructure plan to rebuild our crumbling roads and bridges. Among other important advancements, the bill:

• Reauthorizes the Airport Improvement Program;
• Extends and reforms the Federal Contract Tower Program, like the one in Saint Cloud, allowing for new contract towers, and improves the cost benefit analysis for existing towers;
• Reauthorizes funding for many small airports used by general aviation, such as the Saint Cloud Regional Airport and the Anoka County–Blaine Airport;
• Improves FAA safety workforce training; and
• Prohibits bumping passengers that have already boarded the plane.

These needed improvements are critical to job creation, economic growth, and our daily lives. Additionally, the long term reauthorization provides certainty to the aviation industry, which is especially important for the region with Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport and for local airports in the Sixth District.