FAA’s authorization extended for 6 months by Congress

With neither the House of Representatives nor the Senate introducing legislation to extend the FAA’s legislation on a long-term basis, despite many discussions over a ‘transformational’ reauthorization bill, the agency’s authority was due to expire today, 30th September. Consequently the Senate and then the House swiftly have passed legislation which will extend the current authorization up to March 31, 2016. This bill is also anticipated to be promptly signed by President Barack Obama.
Speaking at the Airlines for America (A4A) Commercial Aviation Industry Summit in Washington DC on the 28th of the month, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Oregon), the ranking member on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, made it clear that both he and Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pennsylvania), the committee’s chairman, “are committed to this being the only extension,” adding “We’re not going to have a repeat of last time.”
The previous authorization granted to the FAA in 2012 took four years of debate in Congress which involved 23 temporary extensions and a two-week partial shutdown of the FAA in the summer of 2011. “I do not want multiple extensions, particularly not in a presidential election year,” DeFazio confirmed.
Funding for the federal government, whose fiscal year ends September 30th, has yet to be approved as Congress has failed to pass appropriations bills. However with short-term funding about to be approved for up to December 11th, only then does DeFazio feel that attention can be directed more fully towards FAA reauthorization.
When asked why Congress had failed to pass a long-term FAA reauthorization in a timely manner, FAA Assistant Administrator – Policy, International Affairs and Environment, Rich Swayze, commented “The Congressional calendar has been very packed. [FAA is] not at the top of that list.” He added, “I’m optimistic that another bill will pass in March. Whether it’s a full reauthorization or another extension, I won’t speculate.”