The U.S. aerospace industry contributes to the nation's economic health and national security. The industry's wide-ranging activities-including aircraft manufacturing and commercial aviation-make it a major contributor to U.S. economic growth. DOT and the FAA (an administration of DOT) each play a policy and regulatory role in aviation, with DOT involved in consumer and economic issues, such as licensing airlines and reviewing applications for antitrust immunity between airlines, and FAA's overseeing the safety of civil aviation. To inform these efforts, various administrations and Congresses have periodically established committees or commissions comprised of external stakeholders to provide recommendations for DOT and FAA, as well as other agencies involved in aviation, to consider in their implementation of aviation policy.