The brewing debt-ceiling showdown may begin flaring this week as House Republicans push action on a bill, signaling no retreat from their demand for spending cuts as a condition to any ceiling hike.

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House and Senate lawmakers are disputing the best way to get to "yes" on a compromise spending blueprint, with the Republican-led House pushing for a broad framework for negotiations and the Democrat-led Senate looking to dive right into discussions.

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This week, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to consider the Working Families Flexibility Act of 2013, H.R. 1406, according to the Small Business Legislative Council. The legislation would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.

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The Senate majority is expected to consider an effort to increase the minimum wage this summer. S. 460, the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013, will be the legislative vehicle.

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Contrary to reports May 2 by the Associated Press that were reported in HAI's RotorNews, the status of the FAA's contract towers remains unknown. Despite increasing pressure from dozens of municipal leaders and a diverse group of lawmakers asking directly for more information about the fate of the program, it remains in limbo.

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With the rates on subsidized federal student loans set to double on July 1 from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent, Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) is sponsoring legislation to extend the lower rate for another two years. Rep. Tom Petri (R-Wis.) has introduced a bill that he says would solve the greater problems facing student loans instead of punting yet again.

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After FAA furloughs were spared by Congress, advocates for other agencies and programs are looking for fixes to their own across-the-board budget cut woes. Key Democratic and Republican lawmakers have suggested law enforcement and homeland security are in a good position to get some help, especially post-Boston.

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Sens. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) are applauding the FAA and DOT for "keeping all 149 federal air traffic control towers" open, including five in their home state.

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POLITICO - President Barack Obama on Wednesday signed into law a bill that allows the FAA to shift money from the Airport Improvement Program to avoid furloughing air traffic controllers. At the same time, Sens. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) are gathering signatures for a letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and FAA Administrator Michael Huerta that seeks to pin the administration down on whether it intends to keep funding flowing to the 149 contract towers currently slated for closure on June 15.

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As lawmakers head home for recess, many will be talking immigration reform with their constituents for the first time since the Gang of Eight released its immigration proposal. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) acknowledged Tuesday that the immigration reform bill in its current incarnation likely won't pass the Republican-led Housecalling it a starting point.

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