BILL PASSED: Sherrill’s Bipartisan Effort to Secure Our Skies Included in FAA Reauthorization Act

Washington, D.C. – Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) successfully passed her Balloon Location Identification Pronouncement Study (BLIPS) Act through the House of Representatives today as part of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act. Her legislation increases coordination between the FAA and the Department of Defense (DOD) to better track unmanned, free-flying balloons in American airspace. This proposal will help to increase real-time awareness for air traffic controllers and homeland security officials, improving flight safety and our military’s readiness.

“As a former Navy helicopter pilot, I know the risks that unmarked objects in our skies can pose to aviators flying for military or commercial purposes – whether it’s weather balloons or equipment being tested by the Department of Defense. That’s why I am so proud to have worked across the aisle to pass this commonsense legislation to ensure that air traffic controllers and aviation officials have the information they need to fly safely,” said Rep. Sherrill. 

The BLIPS Act requires the FAA and DOD to study the impact of untracked, domestically-launched free balloons on aviation safety and military security. The legislation further requires that those agencies study how mandating electronic or radio emitting trackers on those balloons, and integrating that data into the FAA and DOD’s operations networks, will protect US aviation and national security. On a daily basis, hundreds of balloons are released into the sky for critical weather collection, geospatial analysis, satellite payload research and development, and hobbyist enjoyment.

Sherrill’s legislation was included in the five-year FAA Reauthorization Act that was considered and passed today by the House of Representatives and now goes to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law. 

Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill served in the U.S. Navy for almost a decade as a helicopter pilot and Russian policy officer. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party. 

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