August 27, 2015 – Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 (PBOR2) continues to be the best path forward to a successful outcome of long-fought third-class medical reform. Though the bill has encountered a number of roadblocks during attempts to move it through the Senate, support for PBOR2 remains strong. The number of Senate co-sponsors for PBOR2 remains at 57. This week, the EAA advocacy team is meeting with Capitol Hill staff to shore-up support for the bill in anticipation of Congress’s return from recess in September.
Why hasn’t PBOR2 seen more movement? Political dynamics have made PBOR2’s path to a vote complicated. The bill saw opposition in the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, while an attempt to attach similar aeromedical reform language onto the Highway Reauthorization bill failed due to Senate leadership’s refusal to accept all but one proposed amendment. The EAA advocacy staff has been working throughout the month of August to address both political and industry opposition to PBOR2 and find solutions for moving it forward.
During a forum on PBOR2 at EAA AirVenture 2015, Sen. James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma) reinforced his dedication to bringing the bill to a successful outcome and reminded attendees that the legislative process is often painstaking, requiring time, patience, and sometimes compromise. Though there has been little concrete news on PBOR2 during the month of August due to the Congressional summer recess, this legislative effort remains very much alive. EAA thanks all of its dedicated members for their patience and support during this long and difficult process.
Due to the intricacies of Senate rules, reaching 60 co-sponsors would greatly help PBOR2’s chances in that chamber. If your Senators have not yet signed on as co-sponsors of the bill, please contact their offices to encourage their support. A current list of Senate co-sponsors is available here. A list of Senators who have not yet signed on as co-sponsors is below:
Arizona
Sen. John McCain
California
Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Sen. Barbara Boxer
Colorado
Sen. Michael Bennet
Connecticut
Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Sen. Chris Murphy
Delaware
Sen. Tom Carper
Florida
Sen. Bill Nelson
Hawaii
Sen. Brian Schatz and Sen. Mazie Hirono
Illinois
Sen. Dick Durbin
Indiana
Sen. Joe Donnelly
Kentucky
Sen. Mitch McConnell
Maine
Sen. Susan Collins
Maryland
Sen. Barbara Mikulski and Sen. Ben Cardin
Massachusetts
Sen. Ed Markey
Michigan
Sen. Debbie Stabenow and Sen. Gary Peters
Minnesota
Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Sen. Al Franken
Missouri
Sen. Claire McCaskill
Nebraska
Sen. Ben Sasse
Nevada
Sen. Harry Reid
New Hampshire
Sen. Kelly Ayotte
New Jersey
Sen. Robert Menendez and Sen. Cory Booker
New Mexico
Sen. Tom Udall
Sen. Martin Heinrich
New York
Sen. Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
Oregon
Sen. Jeff Merkley
Rhode Island
Sen. Jack Reed and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse
South Carolina
Sen. Lindsey Graham
South Dakota
Sen. John Thune
Tennessee
Sen. Bob Corker
Texas
Sen. Ted Cruz
Vermont
Sen. Patrick Leahy and Sen. Bernie Sanders
Virginia
Sen. Tim Kaine
Washington
Sen. Patty Murray and Sen. Maria Cantwell
