Greg Stanton Introduces Bipartisan Bill Finalizing In-Flight Phone Call Ban

Representative Greg Stanton (D-AZ) has introduced a bipartisan bill finalizing a total ban on in-flight phone calls on commercial airplanes.

What Do You Mean, 'Finalize?'

In 2018, Congress passed a law requiring the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to implement a ban on voice calls on planes, but the FAA has failed to do so for 8 years.

As a result, the Quiet Skies Act would finally force the FAA to comply by requiring the ban to be implemented within 180 days of enactment.

What Lawmakers are Saying

"Millions of Americans are flying to be with family and friends this summer. The last thing anyone wants on a stressful travel weekend is to be trapped next to a passenger on a phone call for hours," Rep. Stanton said in a press release. "It's annoying for passengers, and it's a dangerous distraction for flight attendants. Our bill gives the FAA a firm deadline to finish what Congress already directed."

Representative Rob Bresnahan (R-PA), one of the bill's Republican cosponsors, commented, "As Congress continues our work to make flying as safe as possible, we should also look at ways to make it as enjoyable as possible as well. No one wants to be stuck next to a stranger's phone call for three hours at thirty thousand feet. Congress told DOT to take care of this back in 2018, and this bill will make sure the job finally gets finished."

Previous Bipartisan Efforts

The Quiet Skies Act is the latest bipartisan piece of legislation Rep. Stanton has cosponsored in recent months, previously teaming up with fellow Arizona Representative Eli Crane (R-AZ) in May to introduce amendments to the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for 2027 that would expand healthcare access for Native American veterans.

In June, Stanton introduced three bills with Representative Mike Lawler (R-NY) addressing the dangers related to extreme heat exposure, including a resolution to recognize the week of July 3rd to July 10th as National Extreme Heat Awareness Week, the establishment of a bipartisan Congressional commission to study the effects of extreme heat, and directing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a pilot program in which artificial intelligence (AI) is used to improve the accuracy and consistency of heat-related mortality reporting.