October 4, 2011
The House on Tuesday approved legislation to provide temporary funding to keep the federal government operating until Nov. 18. The Senate approved the measure earlier, and President Obama was expected to sign the bill into law later on Tuesday.
The measure includes a 1.5 percent reduction in current spending rates to keep overall funding at levels agreed to as part of the recent debt ceiling deal.
Passage of the bill is necessary since Congress has failed to complete work on any of the 12 spending bills that provide funding for fiscal year 2012, which began Oct. 1.
Lawmakers now have additional time to deal with unfinished appropriations work for DOT/FAA, DHS/TSA and other federal departments and agencies.
The pending Senate DOT/FAA spending bill includes $3.515 billion for AIP, while the House bill proposes $3.35 billion. Essential Air Service, however, is targeted for a $50 million reduction in the House bill. Both the House and Senate bills require FAA to pay for the space it uses in airport facilities.
In the DHS/TSA spending bill, both the House and Senate propose funding key airport priorities, including inline explosives detection system installation. Disagreements exist on whether to include a cap on the number of TSA screener personnel or to increase the $2.50 passenger security fee to $4.
http://www.aviationnews.net/index.html?do=headline&news_ID=197263
Source: AVIATION NEWS
Date: 2011-10-04