May 23, 2011
The House of Representatives Monday approved another short-term FAA bill by voice vote – the 19th since the last FAA reauthorization bill expired more than three years ago. The latest stop-gap measure will give lawmakers until June 30 to complete action on a multi-year FAA reauthorization bill.
H.R. 1893, the Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2011, Part II, coupled with previous extensions would provide a total of $2.6 billion in AIP contract authority for the first nine months of fiscal year 2011, which began on Oct. 1, 2010. The bipartisan measure also includes a AAAE-backed provision that would extend the 95 percent federal share for AIP projects at small airports.
Congressional staff members have been meeting regularly in recent weeks in an effort to work out the differences between the House- and Senate-passed bills, and have made progress on non-controversial matters. However, disagreements over funding levels for AIP and EAS, slots at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, a controversial labor provision in the House-passed bill and about a dozen other items have yet to be resolved.
Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.), the Ranking Member of the aviation subcommittee, described the labor provision and the proposed funding cuts as “poison pills.” He warned that if his Republican colleagues insist on those provisions, passage of a multi-year FAA bill is “serious jeopardy.”
The Senate is expected to pass the one-month extension later this week.
http://www.aviationnews.net/?do=headline&news_ID=192195
Source: AVIATION NEWS TODAY
Date: 2011-05-23