The U.S. Senate passed a bill to extend until Feb. 17, 2012
funding for the Federal Aviation Administration. The House of Representatives
this week also passed that bill, which prolongs for the 23rd time the
pre-existing FAA authorization that allows the government to collect airline
ticket taxes.
The two chambers each unanimously passed the extension after
Congressional leaders "were able to resolve the major obstacles,"
according to a statement from Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who
noted that "some issues remain."
According to media reports, Congressional Republicans and
Democrats reached a compromise on airline labor regulations, a major sticking
point that led to an FAA funding lapse last summer. Other remaining issues
relate to federal subsidies to small airports and slot distribution at Reagan
Washington National Airport.
According to a statement issued by the House Transportation
and Infrastructure Committee, the approved bill "is a simple extension of
FAA programs ... and contains no additional policy provisions." Committee
chair John L. Mica (R-Fla.) said, "With this extension in place, Congress
can now bring to conclusion a long-overdue FAA bill."
Mica this month told BTN that he is confident a long-term
FAA bill can be finalized this year.