Congress has reached a bipartisan deal aiming to make air travel safer.

Aviation Safety

The Story

Congress has reached a bipartisan deal aiming to make air travel safer.

Is this about a door blowing out mid-flight?

Not quite (though, that's been on their radar too). Lawmakers are currently focused on boosting safety through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The agency has come under scrutiny for having a shortage of air traffic controllers, resulting in FAA employees being fatigued and more likely to make dangerous mistakes, like near-collisions at airports. One analysis found that there were at least 46 close calls last July alone with planes narrowly missing each other by seconds in some cases. The National Transportation Safety Board said the uptick is a “clear warning sign” that the US aviation system is stretched thin.

So, what's Congress doing?

Lawmakers seem poised to give the FAA $105 billion, funding the agency for the next five years. The legislation plans to help close the gap on the air traffic controller shortage and will require the FAA to deploy new technology to help prevent collisions. It also requires cockpits to be equipped with 25-hour voice recorders to review for future safety reforms, and it includes consumer protections like prohibiting airlines from charging extra for families to sit together. The bill has already passed in the House and is expected to pass in the Senate this week.

theSkimm

Air travel has long been considered safer than driving, but recent events have made many feeling uneasy about catching flights instead of feelings. Now, lawmakers have reached an agreement to earmark billions for the FAA and improve safety in the skies.

What some state insurance plans will have to cover…

The cost of gender-affirming care. Yesterday, a federal appeals court in Virginia reportedly became the first court in the country to rule that state health care plans have to cover the cost of gender-affirming surgeries. In its decision, the court ruled that state health care policies in North Carolina and West Virginia were discriminatory after transgender people were denied coverage for certain health care services, including gender-affirming care. State officials had argued they declined covering surgeries because of cost, not bias. Trans advocates have called the decision a huge victory, and the ruling comes as the ACLU says state legislatures have proposed more than 100 bills targeting trans health this year. Still, the case could eventually make its way to the Supreme Court as West Virginia’s attorney general plans to appeal the decision.

...Oh and speaking of transgender rights, yesterday, a federal agency updated its workplace guidelines to say employers who misgender workers or restrict bathroom access are committing workplace harassment. It's not legally binding but could serve as a framework for how the federal government enforces anti-bias laws.

Who’s staying in place…

Student protesters. Columbia University started to suspended student protesters who refused to leave their pro-Palestinian encampment, after school officials gave them a 2 p.m. deadline yesterday to evacuate. The students voted to remain in place after administrators and students were unable to agree to multiple terms, including whether the school would divest its endowment from companies with ties to Israel. Columbia's president said the protest “represents a noisy distraction” and “has created an unwelcoming environment.” School officials have not indicated if they will call the NYPD to remove the students. It’s not clear what comes next for the student protesters as the spring semester is coming to an end and the university prepares for graduation. As for other schools, a confrontation between police and demonstrators at the University of Texas at Austin led to at least 40 arrests.

What’s not keeping it coal…

G7. In an interview, a UK official said the group agreed to shut down all of their coal plants by 2035. This could be a major step in fighting climate change, as coal pollutes more than any other fossil fuel. While this is being hailed as a historic move, many of the G7 nations (including the US) already have some kind of plan in place to phase out coal use. Just last week, the EPA announced it’s requiring all coal plants to either capture their emissions or shut down by 2039. The details of the G7 deal are expected to be finalized today.

What people are talking about…

Charlotte, NC. Authorities said four police officers were killed and four others were wounded in the city yesterday while serving a warrant. Police were attempting to arrest the suspect, when he opened fire on the officers. The suspect died in the shoot out. The incident was one of the deadliest days for US law enforcement in recent years.

Who’s coming to the US…

Giant pandas from China.

Who scientists are fascinated by...

“Super-agers.”

What's starting to rack up culinary awards…

Disney.

Start your Tuesday off right with Typeshift, a fun new game that challenges you to create words from a set number of letters. Warning: It’s very addicting. Start playing.