Senate OK’s reauthorizing FAA programs nd
Also bolsters safety, consumer protections
washingTon — The senate Thursday passed legislation to reauthorize federal aviation programs for the next five years and put in place new safety measures and consumer protections for passengers, at a moment of intense uncertainty and disruption in the air travel system.
The bill, which still must win final approval in the house before becoming law, would provide more than $105 billion to the Federal aviation administration and another $738 million to the national Transportation safety board for airport modernization, technology programs, and safety. it would also bolster the hiring and training of air traffic controllers, codify airlines’ refund obligations to passengers, ensure fee-free family seating, and strengthen protections for passengers with disabilities.
“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,” senator chuck schumer, Democrat of new York, the majority leader, said on the senate floor Thursday evening.
it passed in an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 88-4, just one day before the current law was scheduled to lapse. The senate also unanimously approved a short-term extension to allow time for the house to take up and clear the longer-term package next week, a step that would send it to president biden.
The legislation is a bipartisan compromise negotiated over months by the senate and house committees with jurisdiction over the Faa, after congress authorized several shortterm extensions of the agency when lawmakers failed to meet earlier deadlines. The house passed its version of the bill almost a year ago in a lopsided vote of 351-69.
senator maria cantwell of washington, chair of the commerce committee, celebrated the bill’s provisions on consumer protections, aviation safety, air traffic controllers, airport infrastructure, and workforce development on the floor after passage.
“This is a big moment for aviation,” cantwell said. “we have had safety issues and concerns that we need to make a big investment. This legislation is that investment — in safety standards, in protecting consumers, and advancing a workforce and technology that will allow the United states to be the gold standard in aviation.”
senator Ted cruz, Republican of Texas, the top Republican on the commerce committee, said: “This legislation is a strong, bipartisan, bicameral bill that includes hundreds of priorities for senators and representatives, both Republican and Democrat. This bill gives the Faa the safety tools it needs at a critical time.”
as one of the few remaining bills considered a must-pass item this year, the Faa package, which prompted several regional disputes, became a magnet for dozens of amendments and policy riders that threatened to delay it in the senate.
with the legislation threatening to stall, the house on wednesday approved a oneweek extension for the Faa before leaving washington for the weekend. The senate followed suit on Thursday, steering around lingering disputes that had threatened to scuttle the effort and cause a brief lapse for the Faa.
The debate came at a time of acute uncertainty about the aviation system, which has had a recent spate of concerning episodes such as dangerous near collisions on runways, plane malfunctions, and thousands of flight delays and cancellations.
it was unclear for much of Thursday whether the senate would be able to push through the legislation and the extension, as senators demanded votes on amendments or threatened to block speedy passage. no amendments were ultimately brought to a vote.