Communities Before Air Tourism Act

Bill Number

H.R. 6153

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Transportation and Public Works

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-11-20: Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.

Last Updated

2026-01-07T09:05:43Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "Communities Before Air Tourism Act" (H.R. 6153) aims to protect communities near national parks from the impacts of commercial air tour operations by requiring that voluntary agreements between the National Park Service (NPS) and air tour operators consider the well-being of those communities. This ensures that local residents' quality of life is factored into decisions about flights over park areas.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 40128(b)(7) of Title 49, United States Code, which governs voluntary agreements for commercial air tours over national parks.
• Subparagraph (B) Amendment: Expands the factors to be considered in these agreements to include not only park resources and the air traffic control system but also the well-being of communities overflown by aircraft involved in such operations. (Well-being here refers to aspects like noise pollution, environmental effects, and overall quality of life.)
• Subparagraph (C) Amendment: Broadens the entities that must be consulted or considered in the agreement process to include any community whose lands are, or may be, overflown in addition to Indian tribes.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Previously, voluntary agreements focused primarily on protecting national park resources, air traffic safety, and consulting with Indian tribes. This bill adds explicit consideration of overflown communities' well-being as a core factor, shifting emphasis from solely environmental and tribal protections to include broader community impacts.
• It expands consultation requirements to proactively include communities at risk of being overflown, even if not yet affected, promoting preventive measures.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and NPS will need to incorporate community well-being assessments into agreement negotiations, potentially leading to more rigorous reviews, delays in approvals, or restrictions on flight paths and frequencies.
• On Citizens: Residents in communities near national parks (e.g., those experiencing noise or traffic from air tours) may see reduced disruptions, improved living conditions, and greater voice in federal decisions affecting their areas.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic national parks; however, it could indirectly influence tourism policies for international visitors relying on U.S. air tours.
• Overall, it may result in fewer or more regulated air tours, balancing tourism revenue with local protections.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Local Communities: Residents near national parks, who gain protections against overflight nuisances like noise and safety concerns.
• Indian Tribes: Already protected under existing law, but now joined by communities in consultation processes, potentially strengthening collaborative efforts.
• Commercial Air Tour Operators: Companies offering scenic flights (e.g., helicopter or small plane tours) may face stricter regulations, higher compliance costs, or route limitations.
• Government Agencies: FAA (overseeing aviation) and NPS (managing parks) must adapt processes to include community input.
• Tourism Industry: Broader economic stakeholders, including hotels and guides, could experience changes in visitor experiences or revenue from air tours.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens administrative procedures under the National Parks Air Tour Management Act by mandating community considerations, potentially reducing legal challenges from locals over inadequate environmental impact assessments (e.g., under the National Environmental Policy Act).
• Constitutional: Aligns with federal responsibilities to protect public lands and welfare without infringing on private aviation rights; it promotes equal protection by extending safeguards to non-tribal communities.
• Political: Highlights tensions between economic tourism interests and community rights, possibly encouraging similar protections for other federal lands. As a bipartisan-introduced bill (by Representatives Menendez, Goldman, Nadler, Pou, Case, and Pallone), it reflects growing emphasis on equitable land-use policies amid public concerns over tourism's side effects.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8]

Cosponsors (5)

Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Rep. Pou, Nellie [D-NJ-9], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6]

Recent Actions

• 2025-11-20: Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
• 2025-11-19: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
• 2025-11-19: Introduced in House
• 2025-11-19: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Communities Before Air Tourism Act — issued 2025-11-19 — PDF (2 pages)