Safety Starts at the Top Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]
Introduced
Summary
Would tie FAA delegation eligibility to large aerospace companies' board composition by requiring boards of entities with at least $15 billion in annual revenue to include two labor representatives and two directors with aerospace safety experience. It would also require the Federal Aviation Administration to withdraw delegation authority within 90 days for firms that do not certify compliance with those board requirements.
Show full summary
- Large Organization Designation Authorization holders would need to annually certify that their boards include two labor representatives and two directors with demonstrable aerospace safety experience. This requirement applies to entities reporting at least $15 billion in annual gross revenue.
- Labor organizations that represent employees involved in aircraft design and manufacturing would gain board seats, including at least one representative from each such union that represents those employees. This creates a formal role for worker voice in corporate governance for large holders.
- The Federal Aviation Administration would have a defined enforcement tool to rescind delegations under 49 U.S.C. 44702(d) for entities that fail to meet the new governance and safety-experience requirements, linking delegation authority to board composition and safety oversight.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Board rules for large aircraft companies
If enacted, this bill would require any company that holds an FAA delegation and has at least $15 billion in annual revenue to certify each year that its board includes two labor-organization representatives and two directors with proven aerospace safety experience. One labor representative must represent employees directly involved in aircraft design and manufacturing. The FAA Administrator would have to rescind any delegation to a company that does not meet these board-composition requirements within 90 days after enactment. This would tie delegation eligibility for very large ODA holders to specific governance and safety-experience rules.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]
WA • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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