On March 31, 2016, the current authorization for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the programs it operates, including those of particular importance to California’s rural counties, are set to expire.
The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure recently voted in support of its Chair Representative Bill Shuster’s (R-Pennsylvania) H.R. 4441, referred to as the Aviation, Innovation, Reform and Reauthorization (AIRR) Act. The AIRR Act proposes to reauthorize FAA programs for six years, and contains a controversial policy proposal that would reform and shift the nation’s air traffic control system to the management of a federal non-profit corporation. Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle have expressed discontent with regards to reforming the air traffic control system in such a manner. The House responded by introducing a proposal that provides a four-month short-term extension of the FAA through July 15, 2016 and authorizes the collection of aviation taxes through March 31, 2017. This short-term extension is an attempt to provide House leaders additional time to negotiate a compromise over this controversial component of their FAA authorization measure.
Earlier this week, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee voted in support of its Chair Senator John Thune’s (R-South Dakota) S. 2658, known as the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization (FAAR) Act of 2016. The FAAR Act would provide a two-year authorization of the FAA through Fiscal Year 2017. Notably, both the House and Senate proposals continue to support three critical general aviation and rural air service programs, including the Airport Improvement Program, the Small Community Service Development Program, and the Essential Air Service program. Prior to departing for spring recess, the Senate took action to pass an alternative short-term extension through mid-July that would also extend the authorization for aviation taxes through July 15, 2016 as opposed to the House proposal that contained an extension of aviation taxes through March 31, 2017. The House is anticipated to take up the Senate-passed short-term extension later this month. RCRC will continue to advocate for passage of these programs as supported in both the House and Senate FAA authorization proposals.