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To make clarifications to the Pilot Records Improvement Act of 1996, and for other purposes.

Public Law 105-142 · H.R. 2626 · 105th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Dec 5, 1997 · Transportation and Public Works

Sponsor: Rep. Jimmy Duncan (R-TN-2)

Cosponsors (13): Rep. Bud Shuster,

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Amends Federal aviation law (Pilot Records Improvement Act of 1996) regarding employment investigations and restrictions to permit an air carrier to allow an individual to begin service as a small aircraft pilot, or a helicopter pilot on a non-scheduled operation, before such carrier receives certain requested background information. Sets a 90-day deadline within which the air carrier shall obtain and evaluate such information. Mandates that the pertinent contract stipulate that continuation of such individual's employment is predicated upon a satisfactory evaluation. Provides for waiver of this Act for a documented good faith attempt to obtain such information if the information source (air carrier or other person) no longer exists. Permits, upon request, a pilot who has been employed by an air carrier to review his or her employment records. Requires air carriers to make such records available within a reasonable time (but not later than 30 days after such request).

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 14 actions.

  1. Dec 5, 1997Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 105-142.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Nov 25, 1997PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Nov 13, 1997FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
  5. Nov 9, 1997FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  6. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
  7. FloorFloor · Mr. Duncan moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  8. Oct 31, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  9. Oct 29, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  10. Oct 23, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Aviation Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  11. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Aviation Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  12. Oct 20, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Aviation Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  13. Oct 7, 1997CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  14. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.