Overview

Title

To direct the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to enter into appropriate arrangements with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to provide for a report on the health impacts of air traffic noise and pollution, and for other purposes.

ELI5 AI

The bill asks the Federal Aviation Administration to work with some super-smart scientists to learn about how airplane noise and pollution can make people sick, and then tell the government what they find out.

Summary AI

S. 5295 requires the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to work with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to create a report on the health effects caused by air traffic noise and pollution. The bill mandates that a team of health and environmental science experts be convened within 30 days of the Act's enactment to examine these health impacts. Once the report is complete, it must be sent to certain governmental departments and committees in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. This report aims to compile current scientific information on the topic.

Published

2024-11-12
Congress: 118
Session: 2
Chamber: SENATE
Status: Introduced in Senate
Date: 2024-11-12
Package ID: BILLS-118s5295is

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
2
Words:
425
Pages:
3
Sentences:
2

Language

Nouns: 154
Verbs: 21
Adjectives: 11
Adverbs: 2
Numbers: 14
Entities: 38

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.56
Average Sentence Length:
212.50
Token Entropy:
4.47
Readability (ARI):
109.87

AnalysisAI

The proposed legislation, titled the "Air Traffic Noise and Pollution Expert Consensus Act of 2024," aims to address the health effects of air traffic noise and pollution. Introduced in the U.S. Senate, the bill directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to collaborate with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Specifically, the bill mandates a study and report conducted by experts in health and environmental science to evaluate the impacts of air traffic conditions.

General Summary of the Bill

The bill requires the FAA to partner with the Health and Medicine Division of the National Academies to assess the health consequences of air traffic noise and pollution. The outcome is an expert consensus report intended to provide a comprehensive analysis of existing scientific knowledge on the subject. This report will be made available to several government officials and committees, ensuring that accurate and up-to-date information influences policymaking related to aviation and public health.

Summary of Significant Issues

One major concern with the bill lies in its specific requirement to partner with the Health and Medicine Division of the National Academies, possibly limiting involvement to this single organization and excluding others capable of contributing similar insights. This could stifle competition and innovation from other expert bodies.

Additionally, the bill does not specify funding sources for this initiative, which introduces questions about fiscal responsibility and the potential for unnecessary spending. The tight deadline of assembling a committee within 30 days of enactment could also result in a rushed selection process, potentially affecting the quality and credibility of the final report.

Moreover, the language used in the bill, such as "enter into appropriate arrangements," is vague and lacks clarity on the terms of the FAA's collaboration with the National Academies. Lastly, without clear criteria for selecting committee experts, there is a risk of biased selection, which could undermine the report's objectivity and relevance.

Impact on the Public

Broadly, the bill could positively impact the public by addressing growing concerns about the health effects of air traffic noise and pollution. Access to a comprehensive and scientifically-backed report could lead to better-informed policies that enhance public health and quality of life in areas affected by air traffic.

However, if the concerns about funding, expert selection, and organizational favoritism are not adequately addressed, the bill might result in inefficiencies and miss the opportunity to provide genuine, actionable insights. This could lead to public discontent and skepticism regarding government initiatives and the allocation of resources.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

For stakeholders within the aviation industry, this bill could signal increased scrutiny and regulations concerning noise and pollution. While this might require adjustments and investments to mitigate negative impacts, it also presents an opportunity to innovate and improve the sustainability of aviation operations.

Environmental and public health advocates might see the bill as a step forward in addressing community health concerns, offering a chance for their priorities to be integrated into aviation policies. However, they may push for more explicit commitments to action based on the study's findings.

In summary, the "Air Traffic Noise and Pollution Expert Consensus Act of 2024" is a significant legislative effort to examine air traffic's impact on public health. While the bill’s goals are commendable, addressing the significant issues related to execution could be the key to its success in fostering beneficial outcomes for both the public and specific stakeholder groups.

Issues

  • The collaboration with the Health and Medicine Division of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in Section 2 may appear to favor one organization over others, potentially limiting opportunities for various institutions that could contribute valuable insights or services.

  • The absence of defined funding sources for the study and report as mentioned in Section 2 raises concerns about financial planning, accountability, and the risk of wasteful expenditure.

  • The requirement in Section 2 to convene a committee within 30 days of the Act's enactment might be unrealistic for ensuring a comprehensive and qualified assembly of experts, which could negatively affect the quality of the final report.

  • The phrase 'enter into appropriate arrangements' in Section 2 is vague and may need further definition regarding the expectations and scope of the relationship between the FAA and the National Academies, which could lead to ambiguities in execution and accountability.

  • The lack of specific guidelines or criteria for the selection of experts in Section 2 could lead to biases or the inclusion of members lacking the necessary expertise to assess the health impacts of air traffic noise and pollution effectively.

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Short title Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The first section of the bill states that it may be referred to as the “Air Traffic Noise and Pollution Expert Consensus Act of 2024.”

2. Health impacts of air traffic noise and pollution Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section mandates that the Federal Aviation Administration work with a division of the National Academies to study the health effects of air traffic noise and pollution. The resulting report will be shared with various government officials and committees to provide current scientific insights on the issue.