The Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency Act of 2026

My deepest condolences remain with the families of the 67 lives lost in the DCA mid-air tragedy.

This month, the House overwhelmingly passed the Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (ALERT) Act of 2026. This bill is part of a comprehensive legislative response I co-led in the wake of the tragic 2025 mid-air collision at DCA.

The bipartisan ALERT Act is the result of productive, good-faith collaboration and incorporates feedback from the NTSB and the aviation community to make it a truly comprehensive safety bill.

Its passage is the next step in delivering on Congress's safety commitment to the flying public and acting on the NTSB's 50 safety recommendations. I look forward to working with my Senate counterparts to get a final bill to the President's desk.

Here's what aviation and safety stakeholder groups are saying about the ALERT Act:

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB): "We thank Chairman Graves, Ranking Member Larsen, Chairman Rogers, and Ranking Member Smith for meeting with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) over the last several weeks. We are grateful that they have sought out, seriously considered, and accepted the NTSB's technical assistance to better understand and implement our recommendations from the final report on the investigation."

Affordable Skies Coalition: "The Affordable Skies Coalition supports passage of the Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (ALERT Act). This legislation takes important steps to strengthen aviation safety by advancing technology, including requirements for ADS-B In and upgrades to the Airborne Collision Avoidance System Xa (ACAS Xa). It also improves coordination between military and civilian aviation authorities and reflects key recommendations from the NTSB following the January 29, 2025, midair collision at Washington National Airport (DCA). We believe these actions will strengthen the safety of the National Airspace System and provide greater protection for travelers."

National Air Traffic Controllers Association: "The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) thanks Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee Chairman Sam Graves and Ranking Member Rick Larsen for their leadership on the Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (ALERT) Act of 2026. NATCA worked closely with Chairman Graves and Ranking Member Larsen on this comprehensive, bipartisan amendment in the nature of a substitute (ANS) that will enhance aviation safety for commercial aviation, general aviation, and military aircraft, as well as the flying public and citizens on the ground. Critically, the ALERT Act ANS released on Wednesday, March 25 addresses the safety recommendations of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) following the tragic 2025 midair collision at DCA."

The ALERT Act is a critical step forward to ensure we can avoid another aviation tragedy.

I will never stop thinking of the families, friends, and loved ones of the 67 people who lost their lives last year. And I will never stop working to perfect flight safety standards.

More soon,

Rick