AIN Staff

Members of Congress drifted back to Capitol Hill last month after spending most of August and the first week in September on their annual summer vacations. Talk immediately turned to the situation in Syria and the specter of another round of sequestration.


One of the major orders of business they faced–with the September 30 end of the 2013 fiscal year looming–was how to fund the government for FY2014. One of the first tasks was approval of a short-term continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government operating beyond October 1.


On September 20, the House of Representatives passed by a 230-189 vote a measure that would provide funding until December 15 at current post-sequestration spending levels. The measure (H.J. Res. 59) includes a highly contentious plan to defund the Affordable Care Act, the 2010 health care reform law.


The bill moved to the Senate on September 23, where Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said that no legislation that strips funding for the healthcare law will be approved. Without an agreement on the stopgap CR, most nonessential federal facilities would be closed on October 1.


House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) had hoped to keep the government open past September 30 with relatively little fuss. But the discussions will likely have a significant effect on future funding for the FAA, as well as the Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Protection.


Last spring, the FAA said it would begin furloughing some agency employees and close 149 contract control towers to comply with sequestration. As part of sequester-mandated cuts announced in late February, the agency also had planned to eliminate overnight shifts at 72 ATC facilities, including those at Chicago Midway Airport.


But Congress, realizing that most of its members would be inconvenienced by ATC delays over its spring vacation, passed a bill that staved off controller furloughs and produced “found” money to keep low-activity contract control towers operating. In less than 24 hours, lawmakers approved legislation allowing the FAA to transfer sufficient funds to end employee furloughs and keep all of the 149 low-activity towers open until September 30.


Last month, the American Association of Airport Executives and the Airports Council International-North America sent a joint letter to Congress urging lawmakers to take steps to avoid disruptions in the aviation system and warning them against further use of Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds to pay for FAA operations, as was the case earlier this year with the diversion of more than $250 million in AIP funds.


&nbsp;

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

FAA Funding in Doubt as Fiscal Year Ends

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Industry offers to work with incoming administration to improve efficiency

ATC User Fees Are Back on the Political Agenda

Robert Sancetta

If a pilot has to ask, they probably should stay grounded for now

AINsight: Could You Be Too Sick to Fly?

AmyWilder

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Coalition questions Ligado’s device availability claims 

NBAA, Others Push FCC To Probe Ligado Compliance Claims

News and information about crew, passenger, aircraft and airport security issues.

More In Regulations and Government

ATC User Fees Are Back on the Political Agenda

Industry offers to work with incoming administration to improve efficiency

AINsight: Could You Be Too Sick to Fly?

If a pilot has to ask, they probably should stay grounded for now

NBAA, Others Push FCC To Probe Ligado Compliance Claims

Coalition questions Ligado’s device availability claims

FAA Updates ADS-B Privacy ICAO Address Program

Participants' information is no longer subject to Freedom of Information Act requests

FAA Delays Aeromed Certification Policy Change

But new color vision testing will still go into effect January 1

Mexico’s AFAC Ramps Up Ramp Inspections

Enhanced vigilance will last until mid-January

Graves Set To Continue as House Transportation Chair

A pilot, Graves is active in general aviation

Former Bizjet Escrow Exec Sentenced in Drug Scheme

Judge gives sentence of 16 years in federal prison

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN