Senate Commerce Committee Chair Says House Will Take The Lead On The Issue

Senate Commerce Committee Chair John Thune (R-SD) says that there are not enough votes among committee members to pass President Trump's plan to privatize Air Traffic Control "at the moment", and that he's looking to the House of Representatives to take the lead on the issue.

The Washington Examiner reports that Thune (pictured) told reporters Tuesday that House leadership will be necessary if the proposal is to proceed successfully through the congress. "We'll see what the House is able to do and we'll proceed accordingly. But if that issue were to get addressed, it would probably have to be on the floor in conference," he said.

House Transportation Committee chair Bill Shuster (R-PA) has long been a proponent of privatizing Air Traffic Control. That committee passed a version of the plan last year before Trump became President, but it could not find enough support to make it into an FAA Reauthorization bill. The Congress eventually passed a stopgap funding bill to keep the FAA operating through this fiscal year.

President Trump introduced his plan for ATC privatization last month, but it faces an uphill battle in the Senate, and vigorous opposition from many GA and business aviation interest groups around the country.

Trump and Shuster want to see the plan included in the latest long-term reauthorization of the FAA, which is still being crafted on Capitol Hill.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.commerce.senate.gov