Leaders of two key committees of the House of Representatives have introduced a bill to extend FAA funding through March 31, 2016.
Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pennsylvania), who chairs the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin), who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, introduced H.R. 3614 Sept. 25. The bill, which would continue FAA funding at its current levels, is expected to be considered on the floor of the House this week, according to congressional staffers.
“We’ve been anticipating an extension for some time, and we’re pleased that this legislation has been introduced before FAA’s current funding expires,” said Jim Coon, senior vice president of government affairs at the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). “This should give the House and Senate some breathing room to work through issues affecting a longer-term reauthorization measure.”
FAA’s current authorization is slated to expire Sept. 30. H.R. 3614 would keep the agency operating while the House and Senate work on a more comprehensive, long-term reauthorization package.
H.R. 3614 was introduced after FAA funding was dropped from a larger Senate bill designed to prevent a shutdown of the federal government.
AOPA officials assure pilots that they will continue to be involved as reauthorization moves forward, noting “we’ll stand firm on our opposition to user fees for general aviation and will continue to seek opportunities to have third-class medical reform included in the legislation,” Coon concluded.
So I guess they are not going to take this oppertunity and tack on the PBOR II legislation. If this extends the authorization for another year we lose the chance to finally get medical reform passed into law. Maybe it is just my own negative view of our current government but I do not have much faith in such a low priority bill as PBOR II making it through both houses and than signed into law. The reality is that it has to be tacked onto something of greater importance with minimal conflict between the parties if it is ever going to go anywhere.