Today the House approved a bipartisan bill that would extend aviation programs and excise taxes through Feb. 17. Lawmakers reached an agreement on a controversial labor proposal that may yield the last stop-gap measure Congress approves before passing a long-delayed multi-year FAA reauthorization bill.
Late last Friday Congressional leaders announced an agreement on a controversial labor proposal, one of many issues that held up passage of the FAA Reauthorization bill since 2007. Democrats strongly opposed the House plan to overturn a National Mediation Ruling, and last year the administration issued a veto threat over it. The deal brokered by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) would compromise on rules for how airline workers can form unions.
Negotiators still need to work out their differences on funding levels, the Essential Air Service program, slots at DCA, and a proposal related to lithium batteries. The agency's operating authority had been due to expire on Jan. 31. However, the labor compromise could pave the way for Congress to pass a multi-year bill sometime early next month before the annual Presidents' Day recess. B Meyer FMI: Aviation News