The United States House of Representatives will vote next week on a bill related to

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By David Shepardson

The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote next week on a wide-ranging aviation safety reform bill in response to the dozens of recommendations made after the January 2025 collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, which resulted in 67 deaths.

On March 26, two House committees unanimously passed legislation to require the installation of collision prevention technologies on all military aircraft by 2031, excluding fighters, bombers, and drones, and to establish requirements for collision reduction technology on civilian aircraft and helicopters.

The bill, which is expected to be reviewed under the House rule procedure requiring two-thirds approval, also addresses deficiencies in the Federal Aviation Administration’s safety culture, enhances training and air traffic control procedures, and strengthens airspace security around Reagan National Airport where the deadly collision occurred.

The bill includes a review of flight frequencies at Reagan, home to the country’s busiest runway, to determine if current traffic can be managed.

The House failed to pass another aviation bill in February after the Pentagon withdrew its support, despite calls from lawmakers and families of the collision victims from the American Airlines aircraft, the worst air disaster in the U.S. since 2001.

The ROTOR Act was unanimously passed by the Senate in December, but needed a two-thirds majority in the House to be adopted under the rule procedure and fell short by one vote.

If the House passes the ALERT Act, the House and Senate will likely reconcile differences between the two bills before a measure becomes law.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy stated that the ALERT bill takes into account the 50 recommendations made after the 2025 air collision, and any final legislation must also consider them. “Any other action would go against aviation safety and dishonor the lives of the 67 individuals who perished on January 29, 2025, and their families who have tirelessly fought to improve safety,” Homendy told Reuters.