At this point, some funding is
better than no funding at all.
The House of Representatives has passed
a short-term funding bill
that will keep the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) going until March 8.
The Senate still has to pass its own
companion bill by year’s end to ensure that the funding and authority of the
FAA doesn’t run out. The vote in the House of Representatives was
overwhelmingly in favor, 376-15.
The
FAA reauthorization was supposed to last five years, beginning September 30.
But it got caught up in the federal budget crunch, hence the short-term bills.
The FAA has been under scrutiny for a shortage of air traffic controllers and
an alarming number of near-misses on runways and in the air.
The Senate
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has apparently held up the
full Senate from passing its version of a reauthorization bill.
The House
Transportation Committee did release a statement.
"Because of
the Senate's inaction, today's extension is necessary to ensure the continued
safe operation of our aviation system," the statement reads. "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series of short-term extensions hamstrings FAA operations, maintains outdated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.”
The reported
dispute over pilot training appears to have been settled, perhaps paving the
way for the Senate to pass its version of a reauthorization bill.
However, a potential
government shutdown
would significantly affect the FAA.
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