119th (2025–2027)
S. 5224
The Runway SAFE-T Act aims to improve safety for drivers operating vehicles in airport movement areas—the runways, taxiways, and other active flight areas at commercial airports. The bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration to establish a task force within six months to develop recommendations for enhancing and modernizing driver training programs, which must include representatives from airports of various sizes, airlines, labor organizations, technology companies, and the National Transportation Safety Board. The task force will examine ways to standardize training across airports, improve recurrent training requirements, evaluate new training technologies, and identify barriers like cost and workforce availability that prevent airports from adopting safety improvements. The bill also authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to provide grants to airport sponsors during fiscal years 2027 through 2031 for purchasing technology and training systems that reduce vehicle-related safety incidents, with priority given to projects that improve situational awareness and radio communication. The task force must submit its final report with recommendations to Congress within one year of being established.