Has Less That Three Months Before Continuing Resolution For Funding Expires

Legislators say they are focused on getting an FAA reauthorization bill through Congress before the March 30 expiration date of the continuing resolution funding the FAA, but significant issues remain to be resolved.

Politico reports that in the U.S. House, Rep Peter DeFazio (D-OR), the ranking Democrat on the House Transportation Committee, said that he has concerns about an expected GOP proposal to split Air Traffic Control out of the FAA, but does not think that such concerns will cause a significant holdup to the legislation in the House. “I would expect the House can act well before March 30,” DeFazio said. “What the Senate can or can’t do is always beyond me."

The leadership of the Senate Commerce Committee has listed the reauthorization legislation as a top priority for the panel as they return from their winter break. In an annual progress report released during the holidays, Committee Chair John Thune (R-SD) said "Nothing in our committee’s jurisdiction looms larger than passing a reauthorization, and the opportunity to enact reforms creating a safer and more efficient aviation sector.”

Still, three months will pass in the blink of an eye in Washington, and we all remember the last attempt to reauthorize the FAA, which took years to accomplish without a controversial issue like Air Traffic Control in the mix. Whether Congress can get this done in such a short time is certainly not a sure bet.

(Image from file)

FMI: http://transportation.house.gov, www.commerce.senate.gov