Congress reaches deal on FAA reauthorization

Reuters is reporting that Congressional leaders reached a breakthrough compromise on Friday on the most difficult issue holding up action on long-stalled FAA reauthorization. Leaders in the Senate and House of Representatives agreed to modify politically charged language on how airline unions conduct their elections, partly meeting Republican demands to reform U.S. oversight of representation balloting, congressional aides said. The surprise deal, brokered by Senate Majority leader Harry Reid and House Speaker John Boehner, set the stage for a temporary funding extension of FAA programs that must be in place before any larger bill can be finalized. The FAA’s current temporary funding expires Jan. 31.