Not Enough Time To Finalize Long-Term Bill Before Continuing Resolution Expires

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a short-term extension of the FAA reauthorization Tuesday, ensuring that funding for the agency will continue beyond January 31, when the previous FAA extension expires. The U.S. Senate is expected to pass a short-term extension later this week.

The extension bill, which funds FAA programs through February 17, 2012, does not contain new policy. The short-term reauthorization simply maintains the status quo and provides additional time for lawmakers from the Senate and House to go to conference with the goal of working out the final details of a long-term FAA reauthorization.

Late last week, lawmakers reached a key deal regarding National Mediation Board procedures—an issue that had for years blocked progress on full reauthorization. While ALPA would rather that the National Mediation Board provisions had not been included in the safety bill, the agreement between Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and speaker Sen. John Boehner (R-Ohio) was a necessary compromise to break the long-standing stalemate and allow Congress to move ahead.

This week, leaders, pilot volunteers, and staff from the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, continue to keep up the pressure for a final, full reauthorization of the FAA, which will help set the future direction of U.S. aviation safety policy, support vital research, modernize the air transportation infrastructure and air traffic control system, and position the U.S. airline industry to aggressively compete in the international aviation arena.

FMIL www.alpa.org