The 115th U.S. Congress convened this month, bringing back familiar lawmakers to lead the key committees with jurisdiction over aviation matters. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) on January 6 was reappointed to take the helm of the Senate Commerce Committee, while Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) last month was once again selected to chair the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Thune, serving his second term as chairman of the committee, will work with Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), who will be the ranking member. Subcommittee assignments have not yet been made, but the aviation subcommittee will have a new chairman since Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) lost her bid for re-election.

“I look forward to working with ranking member Bill Nelson and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle on issues at the forefront of innovation and competitiveness, consumer protection, science, transportation and economic growth in my role as chairman,” Thune said after his reappointment.

In the House, Shuster is returning for his third term as chairman of the T&I Committee. He continues to work with Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), the committee's lead Democrat.  

The committees will face another FAA reauthorization debate, with the most recent bill extending the agency’s authorization through the end of September. “We have more work to do, including passing an FAA reform and reauthorization bill that ensures the U.S. has a safe, modern, efficient aviation system for the future,” said Shuster, who is pushing for sweeping changes to the air traffic control organization.

While reauthorization remains high on the priority list, the Senate Commerce Committee begins with a busy agenda of confirmations of numerous agencies under its purview. The committee has scheduled for January 11 a confirmation hearing for Elaine Chao to be Secretary of Transportation.