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Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) issued the following statement after the President signed into law the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act, which blocks new regulations on air shipments of lithium batteries by the FAA. The bill, among other things, funds the FAA through fiscal year 2015.

“After a five-year delay and 23 temporary extensions, I commend my colleagues in the House and Senate in passing legislation that helps meet the future needs of the airline industry. Specifically, I am pleased the law blocks federal transportation agencies from placing stricter rules than the international standards on the shipment of lithium batteries on aircraft,” said Rep. Latta.

Previously, the FAA proposed classifying lithium batteries as hazardous goods, preventing the transport of lithium ion batteries on cargo planes. Millions of batteries are shipped everyday that follow the International Civil Aviation Organization standards for air transport of batteries without any incidents.

Congressman Latta brought attention to the issue back in 2009 when he introduced an amendment in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee prohibiting the FAA from imposing regulations on air shipments of lithium batteries.

“The safety of the airline industry is extremely important; and this language included in the bill ensures that costly and unnecessary regulations aren’t imposed on the transport of lithium batteries, which would only cripple America’s manufacturing competitiveness,” added Latta.