Statement by Women in Aviation International President Dr. Peggy Chabrian on Current Legislation

I direct your attention to bipartisan legislation introduced in the Senate by Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Susan Collins (R-ME) titled Promoting Women in the Aviation Workforce Act of 2017. According to a news release issued by Senator Duckworth’s office, this legislation would:

• Express the sense of Congress that the aviation industry should explore all opportunities to encourage and support women to pursue a career in aviation;
• Direct the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to create and facilitate a Women in Aviation Advisory Board to promote organizations and programs that provide education, training, mentorship, outreach, and recruitment of women in the aviation industry; and
• Direct the FAA to submit a report to Congress on common trends that discourage women from pursuing aviation careers; expanding existing scholarship opportunities for women in aviation; and coordinating professional training and recruitment programs.

The Senate bill cited Women in Aviation International’s Girls in Aviation Day as a program that helps “young women be introduced to the different opportunities that are open to women in the aviation and aerospace industry.”

In addition, in the House of Representatives, Rep. Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) introduced, along with Rep. Steve Knight (CA-25), the Women in Aerospace Education Act, designed to engage girls at a young age to enter fields that have historically had few women participating. Esty’s legislation was cosponsored by Rep. Jackie Walorski (IN-2), Rep. Cheri Bustos (IL-17), and Rep. Mimi Walters (CA-45) and passed the House on Tuesday, December 19, 2017, by a vote of 409-17.