The U.S. House of Representatives voted on May 8 to extend the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill, as Congress’s previous May 10 deadline was quickly approaching.
The House convened to consider a seven-day extension to the FAA reauthorization bill as the Senate races against the clock to pass its version of the long-awaited piece of legislation. After a minimum of two-thirds of the present members voted affirmatively, the new deadline for reauthorizing the FAA is May 17.
The bill, which now sits in the Senate’s lap, seeks to bolster aviation safety standards and consumer protections after the FAA recently experienced multiple near-runway collisions at several major airports because of air traffic control miscommunications. The bill also addresses the FAA’s hiring shortages and risk assessment with air traffic control but left out an early proposal to raise the commercial pilot retirement age to 67 from 65.
“This legislation reflects an agreement between the House and the Senate that will protect the safety of the flying public and ensure the future of the U.S. aviation industry,” Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) said in support of the bill while speaking on the House floor on May 8.
Mr. Larsen said that the Senate is still “working through its process,” as it may consider several amendments to the bill. However, it would likely miss the original May 10 deadline, which prompted the House to quickly pass a seven-day “clean extension” to avoid the cutoff.
Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) also spoke in support of the bill.
“I urge all members to support this most passed bill so we can keep our aviation system operating safely,” he said, noting that failure to pass the bill could cost the U.S. federal government $50 million in lost revenue.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Mr. Graves and Mr. Larsen negotiated the bill just after midnight on April 29.
In a joint statement that the group released on April 29, the lawmakers said the FAA needs “strong and decisive direction from Congress to ensure America’s aviation system maintains its gold standard.”
The House previously voted 401–19 on Feb. 29 to provide a short-term extension—May 10—to reauthorize the FAA after the Senate approved a March 8 deadline in December 2023.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) held a press conference with reporters on Capitol Hill on May 8 to address the failed bipartisan border and FAA reauthorization bills.
“We’re working really hard to get it finished this week in the Senate, and that’s what we hope to do,” Mr. Schumer said.
With the new May 17 deadline, the Senate now has seven additional days to consider amendments to the bill and pass it.
“It’s going to take a lot of cooperation to get this complicated bill done. Thankfully, we have made some good progress over the last few days on germane amendments, and we hope to finish our work in time for the House to act on our bill,” he said.
“I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to prioritize reaching an outcome, so we prevent slipping past the deadline.”
Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) told The Epoch Times on May 7 that she hopes that the Senate will consider a drone safety amendment in the final bill.
“It would be, I think, a good complement to what’s going on with the FAA on making sure that our skies are safe,” she said.
The military has intercepted multiple Chinese drones and spy balloons over American airspace in recent years, prompting some lawmakers to worry about national security implications.
