Austin News

HOUSTON, Texas – U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and U.S. Representative Brian Babin (R-Texas) visited Venus Aerospace’s Houston headquarters today, joining Sassie Duggleby, the company’s CEO and co-founder. Following a tour of Venus Aerospace, a startup focused on high-speed flight engineering, Sen. Cruz discussed how the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 will accelerate aviation innovation.

Provisions in the law championed by Sen. Cruz will enable test corridors for hypersonic and supersonic aircraft, positioning Texas as a leading contender for such a corridor. The law, authored by Sen. Cruz as the ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee, received bipartisan support in both chambers and makes significant investments in America's aviation system's safety, efficiency, and innovation.

Discussing the importance of fostering innovation in Texas' aviation industry, Sen. Cruz stated: “But the challenges y'all face pushing technology forward, testing engines that go much, much faster than commercial jets … what y'all are doing is amazing cutting edge technology and it matters for our military defense enormously. But it also matters for commercial applications to be able to fly across the world, to fly across the Atlantic, across the Pacific in one to two hours, is a breathtaking step forward. And y'all are working to make that a reality."

Venus Aerospace CEO Sassie Duggleby expressed satisfaction with the new legislation: “We couldn’t be more pleased with the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. The new law ensures that our government prepares for hypersonic aviation as Venus Aerospace and others in America work hard on this technology."

The FAA reauthorization bill includes several improvements benefiting travelers in Greater Houston:

- Establishes a Runway Safety Council.

- Accelerates deployments of tower simulator systems.

- Requires installation of Terminal Flight Data Manager (TFDM) at top airports within four years.

- Provides $4 billion per year for airport infrastructure projects.

- Directs hiring of maximum air traffic controllers.

- Integrates commercial space activities into national airspace.

- Reforms State Block Grant and Infrastructure Investment programs benefiting Texas Department of Transportation.

- Streamlines approvals for drone operations for offshore oil and gas facilities.

- Improves safety for ramp workers around plane engines.

- Requires airlines to seat families together.

- Expands drone delivery operations through Beyond Visual Line of Sight rulemaking completion.

- Creates a pilot program training veterans for civil aviation careers.

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