Advocates of third-class medical reform hope their campaign will forge ahead with help from new leadership announced this week in the Congressional GA caucuses. Sens. John Boozman, R-Ark., and Joe Manchin, D-W.V., will co-chair the Senate caucus. In the House, Reps. Sam Graves, R-Mo., and Marc Veasey, D-Texas, will serve as co-chairs. Boozman and Graves (also a member of the House Aviation Subcommittee) had previously spearheaded medical reform legislation that would eliminate the third-class medical requirement for some pilots and aircraft beyond the light-sport rules.
Also this week, the Department of Transportation said it will complete its overdue review of the FAA’s proposed medical reforms on Monday. When the DOT does finish its review, it checks off another step in the rulemaking process that will eventually include a public comment period. The announcements come about a week after AOPA President Mark Baker sent a letter to the DOT, criticizing the agency for taking several months to complete what was supposed to be a 90-day review of the proposal.”The general aviation community has waited too long for medical reform,”Baker said in a statement Thursday.”We will keep pushing for action on every possible front, including seeking a legislative solution with help from our friends in Congress.”
