Originally Posted by
rickair7777
Congress didn't trust the FAA, so while the law left the deets up to the FAA it also mandated a specific minimum of 1500 hours (also allowed for R-ATP minimums). So the law would have to be changed by congress, not just an FAA pencil-whip. Congress may not really care if a few bottom-feeder regional airlines have staffing troubles.
Congress will care after the larger airlines discontinue service to their neck of the woods and give them the middle finger!