Senate Passes FAA Reauthorization in Resounding Fashion
WASHINGTON — After days of debate over amendments that had nothing to do with air travel and were ultimately shelved, the Senate on Thursday night passed the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill in resounding, bipartisan fashion.
The final vote, which extends the FAA’s authority for five years, was 88-4, with four Democrats voting against it.
The holdouts — Sens. Ben Cardin, of Maryland; Tim Kaine, of Virginia, Chris Van Hollen, of Maryland, and Mark Warner, of Virginia — were upset about a provision of the bill that will increase the number of long-distance flights in and out of Reagan National Airport.
They had hoped to pass an amendment that would have cut the flights from the reauthorization package, but that hope died when Senate leaders maneuvered to have no amendments considered.
The reauthorization now heads to the House which voted Wednesday to pass a one-week extension for FAA operations, a move intended to give the chamber more time to consider the bill than it would have had under a looming midnight deadline.
The new deadline for House passage of the bill is now Friday, May 17.
The bill passed by the Senate authorizes more than $105 billion in funding for the FAA and an additional $738 million for the National Transportation Safety Board for a five-year period ending in 2028.
In addition, the bill seeks to address the nation’s shortage by enabling the FAA to hire and train up to 3,000 new air traffic controllers. It also includes a provision to increase the cockpit voice recorder length from two to 25 hours and increase the time frame individuals can use travel credits to at least five years.
The bill also includes a provision that allows members of Congress, judges and cabinet members to receive security escorts if they are facing credible threats.
“The American people expect and deserve the safest, most reliable and modern aerospace system in the world and this landmark bill is intended to deliver just that,” Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said in a written statement.
“Our bipartisan legislation sets clear priorities to strengthen aviation safety standards, implement new safety technology, hire more Air Traffic Controllers and safety inspectors, give passengers a guaranteed right to a refund, advance innovation and modernize our air travel infrastructure nationwide,” she continued. “With tonight’s overwhelming vote, we are one step closer to getting this bill onto the president’s desk.”
Senate Aviation Safety Subcommittee Chair Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., agreed, calling the bill’s passage, “A true bipartisan win for our entire economy as well as a landmark improvement for aviation safety that will benefit the flying public and consumers across this country.”
Given how long it took to get the bill finished, the FAA reauthorization is likely the last big piece of legislation Congress will pass ahead of the 2024 election.
“After months of painstaking work, the FAA reauthorization is passing the Senate today,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. said ahead of Thursday’s floor vote. “Aviation safety has been front of mind for millions of Americans recently, and this FAA bill is the best thing Congress can do to give Americans the peace of mind they deserve.”
Once the bill passes the House , which is expected, it will move to President Joe Biden’s desk.
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