May 11, 2011 By Josh Mitchell
WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- The U.S. Congress may push back consideration of a major aviation bill as negotiators haggle over funding levels and other contentious provisions, House Transportation Committee Chairman John Mica said Wednesday.
The Florida Republican said lawmakers have made significant progress in talks in recent days and he remains hopeful the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill will be passed by month’s end. But Mica said Congress may have to pass a short-term extension of the current FAA law to buy more time for negotiations.
Lawmakers must resolve differences between House and Senate versions of the FAA legislation. The Republican-controlled House passed a four-year, $59.7 billion bill that would reset the FAA budget to 2008 levels, cutting about $4 billion from projected spending through 2015. The Democratic-controlled Senate approved a two-year, $35 billion measure that would boost FAA funding.
The Obama administration favors increased funding for FAA programs.
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Source: DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
Date: 2011-05-11