Friday: Two Libya bills and the FAA

This second bill was put forward after House Republicans wanted a tougher alternative to a resolution that would have called on the administration to leave Libya after 15 days, but might easily have been ignored by the administration, in particular if it was not approved by the Senate.

The House on Friday is also expected to pass H.R. 2279, which would extend taxes that fund the Airport and Airway Trust Fund for a little less than a month, until July 22. Under current law, those taxes expire June 30. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is funded in part through these taxes on airlines and passengers.

Congress has struggled to pass a longer-term funding bill, in large part because House Republicans have sought to reduce spending, while Democrats in the Senate do not support these cuts. Republicans also support language that would make it harder to form air and rail unions.

Democrats in May warned that these two issues would likely prevent any final deal on a bill between the House and Senate.

House passage of a short extension on Friday would likely lead to Senate passage of the same bill next week. The House is out the last week of June, but the Senate will remain.

Members of the House on Thursday night held an initial debate on H.R. 2219, the Defense Department Appropriations Act, and is expected to take up amendments when they return in early July. Thursday’s debate was harmless; Democrats said they support the bill, which funds DOD at $530 billion — more than what was spent last year but less than the Obama administration’s request.