6 April 2016

FAA Reauthorization One of the Few Major Bills to Move Forward in Congress in 2016

 

For the remainder of 2016, there are only two must-pass pieces of legislation remaining in Congress: (1) a massive Omnibus appropriations bill funding the federal government for fiscal year (FY) 2017, which will likely pass in the lame-duck period of November-December after the presidential election and following the enactment of a short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government beginning October 1; and (2) the reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). On March 30, President Obama signed the “Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2016” into law, which extends authorization and tax authority for the FAA through July 15, 2016; FAA authorization was set to expire on March 31. This gives the House and Senate just over three months to reach consensus and pass a long-term FAA reauthorization bill before Congress recesses for seven weeks from July 16-September 6, for the Democratic and Republican National Conventions and the annual August summer recess.    

 

The House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee passed, on February 11, the “Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization (AIRR) Act of 2016” (H.R. 4441), by a near party-line vote of 32-26. The AIRR Act would reauthorize the FAA through September 30, 2022 and includes a controversial provision which would privatize the U.S. air traffic control (ATC) system in three years by spinning 38,000 federal workers into a private nonprofit corporation. The privatization of the ATC system has effectively grounded consideration of the AIRR Act to a complete halt. House GOP leadership has not (and likely will not) put the bill up for a vote by the full House any time soon, due to the controversial provisions in the bill.

 

On March 16, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee passed, by a unanimous vote, its own FAA reauthorization bill, the “Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2016” (S. 2658), which would reauthorize the FAA through September 30, 2017. This bill, unlike the AIRR Act, does not contain the privatization of the ATC system, making it much less controversial than the House’s counterpart bill. According to the Senate Commerce Committee, the bill “supports U.S. jobs, improves safety, advances beneficial drone technology, and helps passengers [and] does not raise taxes or fees on the traveling public.”

 

On April 4, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced that the Senate will be using a tax bill passed by the House last year, the “America’s Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2015” (H.R. 636), as a vehicle upon which the FAA Reauthorization Act will ride (this is due to a rule stating that all legislation including tax-related provisions must originate from the House). Because the FAA bill will likely be the last tax bill to be considered by the Senate before the fall elections, negotiations are underway to attach the extension of some expired clean energy tax breaks to the bill. Additionally, several transportation security-related amendments will likely be considered by the full Senate, in the aftermath of the Brussels airport attack last month. On April 6, the Senate took a key step forward on the FAA Reauthorization Act by voting, 98-0, to limit debate on the procedural motion to put the bill before the Senate. There will likely be at least a few votes on amendments to the bill before the full Senate passes the bill by the end of the week. If the Senate bill passes, it will go back to the House, where the AIRR Act has been languishing.

 

The next three months of consideration of the FAA Reauthorization Act will primarily be in the House’s court. Whether House GOP leadership (1) allows for an amendment process of S. 2658, ultimately bringing it up for a full vote by the House; (2) ignoring it entirely; or (3) attempting to vote on the House T&I Committee-passed AIRR Act, is currently a big unknown. What is known, is that the FAA will continue to be in the spotlight for the majority of the remaining legislative days Congress is in session this year.   

Blog TopicTransportation
Print
«November 2024»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
282930

Grant Due: FY 2024 Vehicle Technologies Office Batteries Funding

FY 2024 Vehicle Technologies Office Batteries Funding

WHAT DOES IT FUND? This program advances research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RD&D) in several areas critical to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050, including: development of innovative battery chemistries and component materials, reduction of cascading battery fires, and battery electrode, cell, and pack manufacturing cost reduction. Click here for more information.

WHO'S ELIGIBLE? State and local governments, nonprofits, for-profits, institutions of higher education, and Indian Tribes 

TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $42.9 million

WHEN'S IT DUE? October 30, 2024 (Full Application) 

Read more
311

Grant Due: FY 2024 Healthy Communities Grant Program (Region 1, New England)

FY 2024 Healthy Communities Grant Program (Region 1, New England)

WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to fund direct work with communities to reduce environmental risks, protect and improve human health and improve quality of life. Click here for more information.

WHO'S ELIGIBLE? State and local governments, nonprofits, federally recognized Indian Tribal governments, K-12 schools or school districts, all which do not need to be within EPA Region 1 but must propose projects within that area

TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $500,000

WHEN'S IT DUE? November 1, 2024

Read more
23
4567

Grant Due: FY 2024 Offshore Wind National and Regional Research and Development

FY 2024 Offshore Wind National and Regional Research and Development

WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to apply basic research, education/outreach, and feasibility study activities to be funded under this program will support the government-wide approach to the climate crisis by driving the innovation that can lead to the deployment of clean energy technologies. Click here for more information.

WHO'S ELIGIBLE? State and local governments, institutions of higher education, nonprofits, forprofit entities, and federally recognized Indian Tribes 

TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $48.6 million

WHEN'S IT DUE? November 7, 2024 (Full Applications)

Read more
8910
11121314

Grant Due: FY 2025 Service Area Competition (Third Solicitation)

FY 2025 Service Area Competition (Third Solicitation)

WHAT DOES IT FUND? This program ensures continuity of care in the communities and populations currently served by the Health Center Program. Click here for more information.

WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Special district governments, city or township governments, state governments, county governments, Native American tribal governments and organizations, urban Indian organizations, nonprofit organizations, and independent school districts

TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $244.4 million

WHEN'S IT DUE? November 14, 2024 (EHBs)

Read more
151617
18192021

Grant Due: FY 2024 Continuum of Care (CoC) Builds

FY 2024 Continuum of Care (CoC) Builds

WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to target efforts within Continuum of Care (CoC) geographic areas to address and reduce persons experiencing homelessness by adding new units of permanent supportive housing (PSH) through new construction, acquisition, or rehabilitation through one-time awards under this program. Click here for more information.

WHO'S ELIGIBLE? State governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, public housing authorities (PHAs)/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), and nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, and faith-based organizations

TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $175 million

WHEN'S IT DUE? November 21, 2024

Read more
222324
2526272829301
2345678

US Congressional Calendar

27 November 2023

TFG Presents 2024 Congressional Calendar

The Ferguson Group (TFG) compiled a 2024 Congressional Calendar with session and recess dates for the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate 118th congressional session. 

Latest TFG News

Kristen H. Long Promoted to Grants Principal at TFG 24 July 2024

Kristen H. Long Promoted to Grants Principal at TFG

TFG strengthens leadership team amidst explosive growth in grants division.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The TFG Grants Division is pleased to announce the promotion of Kristen H. Long to Grants Principal. Kristen has been an integral part of the TFG Grants Division since 2022.

Meet a Team Member

Laura Cosenzo

Laura Cosenzo

Operations Manager

Latest Coronavirus Updates