Some Now Calling For An Extension Of As Long As A Year

When it comes to a long-term funding bill for the FAA, the only thing that is certain is that the current continuing resolution expires on September 30. Beyond that, there appears to be only conflict and stubbornness on Capitol Hill.

Bloomberg Government reports that it does not appear that House Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) (pictured) does not have the votes to pass HR 2997, also known as the "21st Century Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization" or "AIRR" act in the full House of Representatives. And the sticking point is the controversial plan to spin ATC off from the FAA, putting it in the hands of a private, non-profit corporation. The Senate version of the bill, which must also be passed and then reconciled with differences in the house bill, does not include the proposal. That's a lot of work for Congress to get done in two weeks.

While there is some support among House Republicans for the spin-off, it is by no means universal. And opposition is even stronger in the Senate. Kansas Republican Senator Jerry Moran told Bloomberg that it's time for the House leadership to concede that ATC privatization is not going to happen in this reauthorization bill, and to put forward a version that does not include that proposal. “That would then allow us to do what we should have done a year ago, which was to pass a long-term reauthorization bill, rather than a short-term extension," he said.

While the Senate bill does not include the ATC privatization issue, it does contain a proposal to change the way regional airline pilots earn training hours that has some Senate Democrats, including Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), strongly opposing the bill.

The bottom line is that, given the disparities between the two bills and the short amount of time left to get something passed, another extension is unavoidable, according to Senate Commerce Committee Chair John Thune (R-SD). The only question now is whether it will be six months, a year or longer.

(Image from file)

FMI: Original Report