# 119-hr-5851: Keep America Flying Act of 2026

119-hr-5851, Keep America Flying Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. James, John [R-MI-10] (R-MI); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5851
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-5851
- Congress: 119
- Title: Keep America Flying Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-10-28
- Sponsor: Rep. James, John [R-MI-10] (R-MI)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Continued pay for frontline aviation staff during a funding gap.** This bill would authorize Treasury to provide payments to maintain standard pay, allowances, pay differentials, benefits, and other regular compensation for essential FAA air traffic controllers and other FAA personnel required to operate the national airspace system, for TSA employees engaged in screening and aviation security duties, and for contractors those agencies determine support those functions, beginning October 1, 2025 and continuing until new appropriations are enacted or September 30, 2026. - Air traffic controllers and FAA essential personnel: They would continue to receive standard pay and benefits during a lapse in FY2026 appropriations so operations needed for the national airspace system can continue. - TSA screening and security personnel: They would continue to be paid for screening and related mission-support duties necessary to carry out security screening. - FAA and TSA contractors: The bill would allow payments to contractors the Secretary of Transportation or the TSA Administrator determines provide support to the covered personnel. Those expenditures would be charged to the applicable appropriation when Congress enacts it.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Rep. Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7] (R-PA), 2025-10-31T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Keep air travel staff paid in shutdown: mixed, high. If enacted, FAA air traffic controllers, essential FAA staff, and TSA screeners would keep getting normal pay and benefits during any FY2026 funding lapse starting October 1, 2025. Contractors who support those workers could also be paid if the agencies approve. The bill would take effect as if on…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-8615: FLEETS Now Act
- 119-hr-833: Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025
- 119-hr-8210: A Stronger Workforce for America Act of 2026
- 119-hr-9211: Jewish American Security Act
- 119-hr-740: Veterans’ ACCESS Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-5851 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5851)

## Related
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-8615: FLEETS Now Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8615)
- [119-hr-833: Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-833)
- [119-hr-8210: A Stronger Workforce for America Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8210)
- [119-hr-9211: Jewish American Security Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9211)
- [119-hr-740: Veterans’ ACCESS Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-740)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5851 (as of 2026-04-21).