Once again the Senate and House could not agree on reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration and the House passed a one-month extension of funding and taxing authority to keep the FAA operating through July. The FAA has been without long-term authority since Sept. 30, 2007. It has been operating on a series of three-month extensions. The existing extension expires July 3.
Long-term reauthorization has been passed by the House but action on it has been held up in the Senate over several matters. The most difficult to resolve concerns unionization of Federal Express workers. Staff members have been meeting diligently in this extension period with neither side showing any signs of giving ground.
Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) said both houses are close to agreement and he hopes to have an agreement by Aug. 1, when the latest extension will expire.