The U. S. House of Representatives passed a bill today, November 6, that would extend the authorization for most Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs through December to give lawmakers more time to complete a full overhaul.  The underlying bill (S 2265), passed by voice vote, would reauthorize the Essential Air Service program for one year. On the floor, lawmakers used a procedural maneuver to add the text of a bill (HR 3540) that would extend the FAA’s other programs through calendar 2007.

The bill was considered under suspension of the rules, which bars amendments. However, the bill can be changed by the motion to suspend the rules, which was the case today.  The FAA is already operating under a short-term authorization enacted as part of a fiscal 2008 continuing resolution (PL 108-176) that lasts through November 16.  The House has passed a full, four-year FAA bill (HR 2881), but the Senate has not considered its version (S 1300).

Congressman Tom Petri of Wisconsin, the ranking Republican on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation, said there is no chance for enactment of the full reauthorization bill by November 16, when the continuing resolution expires.  The bill passed today “simply continues aviation programs under the same terms and conditions as were in effect on September 30, 2007,” when the last full authorization expired, Petri said.

The underlying Essential Air legislation, passed by the Senate Oct. 30, would ensure that commercial airlines keep flying into small communities that otherwise would not be served because the routes are not profitable enough.

The House-passed version, among other things, extended through December 31 the contract authority of the Airport Improvement Program, at $918.75 million. That amount, when annualized, continues funding authority at fiscal 2007 levels.  The House measure also would extend through year’s end the Transportation secretary’s authority to limit to $100 million the third-party liability exposure of airlines and aircraft manufacturers in any lawsuits related to a terrorist event.

HAI will continue to closely follow this issue and provide updates as legislative developments occur in the U.S. Senate.