While the House passed a short-term extension for FAA reauthorization earlier this week, the Senate has delayed action at least into next week as it haggles over Ukrainian aid and the U.S. border.
The House passed H.R.6503, the Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2023, on Monday to provide lawmakers until March 8 to pass a comprehensive FAA reauthorization package. Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas) yesterday attempted to bring up the extension for consideration on the floor, but Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) placed a temporary hold, saying, “I will object to this request, because I think it is critically important for us to use this moment to fulfill our obligations in the world, to the United States national security and our commitment to democracy, both here and throughout the western world.”
The Senate had originally hoped to break for the holidays today, but last-minute disagreements are keeping the chamber in session into next week.
The short-term extension—the second such stopgap measure for the FAA bill this year—passed with bipartisan support amongst the leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and aviation subcommittee.
“We remain committed to enacting a comprehensive, long-term FAA reauthorization bill as soon as possible,” T&I Committee chair and Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-Missouri) and Rick Larsen (D-Washington), and aviation subcommittee Chair and Ranking Member Garret Graves (R-Louisiana), and Steve Cohen (D-Tennessee), said in a joint statement. “But make no mistake—the Senate must promptly act on a long-term bill, as a series of short-term extensions hamstrings FAA operations, maintains outdated policies, and fails to provide critical policy updates for aviation safety, efficiency, innovation, and more.”
Meanwhile, Cruz and Rep. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) warned of the consequences of not passing a short-term bill. “We face a challenge of not extending the FAA’s authorities,” Cruz said. “The Senate cannot leave for the holidays without passing an extension.”
He said without an extension, airport construction projects using FAA grants would halt, the agency would be unable to tap into the aviation trust fund for projects (resulting in furloughs), special authorizations for drone authorizations could expire, and airline ticket taxes could not be collected.
“In 2011, the last time the FAA’s authorization lapsed, more than 4,000 FAA employees were furloughed, and the FAA lost more than $400 million,” he said.
“It has to be done before the end of the year,” Moran agreed. “We’re creating more uncertainty every day, every hour that we fail to do so.”