H.R. 7613

ALERT Act

Sponsor: Sam Graves

87 cosponsors
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Official summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service.

Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency Act of 2026 or the ALERT Act

This bill addresses aviation safety by increasing requirements for aircraft tracking and communication using Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology and expanding oversight. As background, ADS-B for broadcasting (Out) and receiving (In) transmits information (e.g., location and weather) among aircraft and air traffic control (ATC).

The bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) to enter into an agreement regarding the use of collision prevention technologies on DOD aircraft. The agreement must require the use of ADS-B Out as the default practice for DOD helicopters operating in the national airspace, unless such use would affect operational security. For DOD helicopters that are carrying out special missions in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area and are exempt from ADS-B Out transmission requirements, DOD must coordinate with DOT to conduct a safety risk assessment and implement appropriate mitigations.

By December 31, 2031, DOD aircraft (other than certain special mission aircraft) must be equipped with and operating integrated ADS-B In technology.

With respect to civil aircraft, by December 31, 2031, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must generally require aircraft that are currently required to be equipped with ADS-B Out to also be equipped with ADS-B In.

Additionally, among other requirements, the FAA must

  • establish time-on-position limits for supervisory ATC personnel;
  • establish a process to timely notify parties involved in certain near-miss incidents; and
  • evaluate and revise, as necessary, helicopter routes around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Text of the bill

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I Civil Aviation Matters

Sec. 125. Documentation of control position combinations Changed · Apr 9

Where this section came from

  1. Feb 20, 2026 · Introduced in House Referred to House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Feb 20 Referred to House Committee on Armed Services, Feb 20
  2. Apr 9, 2026 · Reported in House Marked up by House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Mar 26 Marked up by House Committee on Armed Services, Mar 26 Reported by House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Apr 9 Reported by House Committee on Armed Services, Apr 9 Committee members' individual votes aren't in our records.
What changed in the text

(a) In general. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall review and revise, as appropriate, regulations and standard operating procedures regarding the documentation of the combination of air traffic control position responsibilities, including each occurrence in which any air traffic control position is combined with any other position, including a local control position, operations supervisor, or controller-in-charge. (b) Requirements. In reviewing and revising the regulations procedures described in subsection (a), the Administrator shall— (1) evaluate standard operating procedures , guidance, and regulations guidance regarding the combination of controller position responsibilities described in subsection (a) that are in effect prior to the date of enactment of this Act;

(2) examine the feasibility of digitizing, or providing an electronic means of, the documentation described in subsection (a);

(3) require the operations supervisor or controller-in-charge to periodically review documentation of occurrences of combined control position responsibilities described in subsection (a) and submit report a on rationale deviations for from atypical the occurrences standard operating procedures to the facility air traffic manager;

… 6 unchanged passages …

(d) Rule of construction. Nothing in this section may be construed to interfere with any agreement between a governmental entity agency and the exclusive bargaining representative of air traffic controllers certified under section 7111 of title 5, United States Code , including or requirements under section 5333(b) of title 49, United States Code, and section 7106(a) of title 5, United States Code.

… 5 unchanged passages …

What is a markup?

A markup is a committee meeting where members go through a bill and vote on changes before sending it to the full chamber.

(a) In general. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall review and revise, as appropriate, procedures regarding the documentation of the combination of air traffic control position responsibilities, including each occurrence in which any air traffic control position is combined with any other position, including a local control position, operations supervisor, or controller-in-charge.

(b) Requirements. In reviewing and revising the procedures described in subsection (a), the Administrator shall—

(1) evaluate procedures and guidance regarding the combination of controller position responsibilities described in subsection (a) that are in effect prior to the date of enactment of this Act;

(2) examine the feasibility of digitizing, or providing an electronic means of, the documentation described in subsection (a);

(3) require the operations supervisor to periodically review documentation of occurrences of combined control position responsibilities described in subsection (a) and report on deviations from the standard operating procedures to the facility air traffic manager;

(4) consider air traffic facility type and staffing level; and

(5) consult with representatives of—

(A) the exclusive bargaining representative of air traffic controllers certified under section 7111 of title 5, United States Code;

(B) organizations representing air traffic control managers and operational supervisors; and

(C) aviation safety experts with specific knowledge in information technology.

(c) Briefing to Congress. Not later than 1 year after the completion of the review required under subsection (a), the Administrator shall brief the appropriate committees of Congress on implementation of this section.

(d) Rule of construction. Nothing in this section may be construed to interfere with any agreement between a governmental agency and the exclusive bargaining representative of air traffic controllers certified under section 7111 of title 5, United States Code or section 7106(a) of title 5, United States Code.

(e) Definitions. In this section:

(1) Controller-in-charge. The term controller-in-charge means an air traffic control specialist performing duties of a shift supervisor in accordance with—

(A) FAA Order JO 7210.3EE, titled Facility Operation and Administration, issued on February 20, 2025; and

(B) FAA Order JO 7110.65BB, titled Air Traffic Control, issued on February 20, 2025.

(2) Operations supervisor. The term operations supervisor means managerial personnel responsible for the direct supervision of air traffic control operational personnel.

II Department of Defense Matters