Senate passes FAA extension without flood insurance provision
The Senate cleared a six-month extension of the Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday but also removed a flood insurance provision, meaning the bill will need to return to the House.
Senators passed the bill by unanimous consent, including a push by GOP Sens. Bill Cassidy (La.), Mike Rounds (S.D.) and John Kennedy (La.) to nix the language on private flood insurance markets.
The legislative ping-pong comes after the House voted 264-155 earlier Thursday to approve the bill, which also includes new tax relief for hurricane victims.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) urged his colleagues to let the legislation pass ahead of a looming end-of-the-month deadline.
“These are the resources that fund repairs and replacement parts for our traffic control system. Even absent a crisis, it would be irresponsible to let this lapse,” he said from the Senate floor.
The agency’s current legal authority expires Saturday.
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) was overheard by a Politico reporter in an elevator on Wednesday pressing Kennedy to oppose the flood language.
Kennedy and Cassidy (R-La.) issued a statement later in the day expressing concern over the provision.
“The decision to include this flood insurance measure on the FAA reauthorization bill, and not as part of comprehensive flood insurance reform, is greatly concerning,” the senators said.
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