No Vote on FAA Funding Bill, Yet

By Matt Thurber

May 1, 2008
Government

The U.S. Senate adjourned at 8:01 p.m. last night without voting on the FAA reauthorization bill, once again putting the legislation at risk of inaction as the clock ticks toward the June 30 FAA funding expiration. Senior advisors to President Bush are recommending that he veto the bill if it doesn’t include user fees and provide more airline control over the ATC system.

NATA is hoping that Senate leaders will reconcile their differences and pass the latest bill, which includes “the repeal of the onerous fuel fraud tax and exclusion of any new user fees. Meanwhile, Sen.

Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) offered an amendment to the bill that would, according to ARSA, mandate drug and alcohol testing for foreign maintenance employees; twice-annual inspections of foreign repair stations; tighten restrictions on foreign repair station certification if the TSA doesn’t develop new security rules; and increase fees for inspection of foreign repair stations. The Senate is expected to resume consideration of the FAA Reauthorization Act today.

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