U.S. House Overwhelmingly Approves Air Safety Alert Act

The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday evening approved the Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (Alert) Act of 2026 (H.R. 7613) by a 396 to 10 vote. The Alert Act was designed to address all 50 of the NTSB’s safety recommendations stemming from the Jan. 29, 2025 midair collision between a PSA Airlines CRJ700 and a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA).

Receiving wide praise from the business and general aviation community, this approval follows the introduction of the bill in February after the NTSB released its full report of the investigation. The original legislation drew objections that it didn’t go far enough on an ADS-B In mandate and the use of such technologies in the U.S. military. After revisions, both the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) and Armed Services Committees passed their respective portions of the bill on March 26.

“The tragic crash that occurred over the Potomac River and most other aviation incidents are rarely the result of a single issue or failure. They are the result of multiple contributing and complex factors, which is why it was essential that we understood all the facts before legislating,” said T&I Chairman Sam Graves (R-Missouri). “The Alert Act is the bipartisan and comprehensive response to the full scope of this accident.”

The bill requires ADS-B In and corresponding collision prevention technology on all aircraft required to have ADS-B Out by Dec. 31, 2031. It further ensures use of the technologies, updates helicopter safety and separation requirements, calls for improvements to air traffic control training and processes, directs the FAA to establish a database to monitor close calls, addresses safety culture and data-sharing shortcomings that the accident highlighted, strengthens military aircraft safety standards and cooperation with the FAA, and strengthens oversight of flight operations in congested airspace, among other provisions.

The bill next must be reconciled with the U.S. Senate’s more narrowly focused Rotor Act, which includes a comprehensive ADS-B In mandate for all aircraft. Senate leaders had unsuccessfully tried to push the Rotor Act through the House under an agreement struck with House leaders and were among those initially critical of the Alert Act.

T&I ranking member Rick Larsen (D-Washington), however, stressed that the 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.”

NATA president and CEO Curt Castagna called the bill a “thoughtful response to every recommendation that emerged from the NTSB’s investigation,” while NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen praised the bill for addressing safety gaps, supporting next-generation technology, and bringing together industry experts on safety standards.

AOPA, meanwhile, further welcomed language in the bill to ensure privacy protections around ADS-B to ensure the technology is used for its intended purpose. AOPA senior v-p of government affairs and advocacy Jim Coon said, “This bill is positioned to dramatically enhance aviation safety," removing disincentives that may prevent pilots from using the technology.