Key Senate and House negotiators unveiled a long-awaited bill Monday to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (TEXT; SECTION BY SECTION) for the next five years, a major must-pass item ahead of the May 10th deadline. The deal would boost funding intended to avert close-call collisions on runways, improve air traffic controller staffing, maintain the current pilot retirement age at 65, and grant 10 additional slots at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, or five round-trip flights. Congress extended the authorization for the agency, allowing more time to complete the $105 billion bill, which the Senate is expected to vote on this week. The House passed its version of the bill last July by a vote of 351 to 69. Its version of the bill raised the mandatory pilot retirement age from 65 to 67. However, after opponents argued the change could affect safety and cause problems for pilots over 65 internationally, the Senate Commerce Committee stripped the provision from the bill.
For today, the Senate is expected to vote on a motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Georgia N. Alexakis to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois.
The House met at 10:00 A.M. and is working on complete consideration of H.R. 529 – Extending Limits of U.S. Customs Waters Act. The House is also expected to take up: H.R. 3195 – Superior National Forest Restoration Act, H.R. 764 – Trust the Science Act, H.R. 615 – Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2023 and H.R. 3397 – Western Economic Security Today Act of 2024.
The House may also consider six bills under suspension of the Rules.
