Senate creeps closer to passing FAA bill

The Senate inched closer Thursday to wrapping up work on a long-term reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration, voting 94-4 to end debate on a substitute amendment to the bill.

Lawmakers overwhelmingly backed a motion to invoke cloture on a substitute amendment from Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) that would greenlight FAA programs through fiscal 2017. The agency’s current legal authority expires on July 15.

{mosads}The FAA legislation addresses drone safety and privacy issues, increases authorized funding for the Airport Improvement Program and establishes new consumer protections, such as requiring airlines to offer refunds for lost or delayed bags.

“It accomplishes this without increasing taxes or fees on passengers, and without imposing heavy-handed regulations that diminish choice for travelers,” Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on the Senate floor.

The measure also contains a number of provisions to beef up airport security and enhance the airport employee vetting process. Lawmakers pushed for the amendments following the terrorist attacks on a Brussels airport and subway station last month.

“For the past two weeks on the Senate floor, we’ve engaged in a constructive and open process to consider amendments,” said Thune, who chairs the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

Thune and the committee’s ranking member, Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), said they hope to advance an additional package of 25 or 30 bipartisan amendments by unanimous consent. They are aiming to complete work on the bill before the end of this week.

“It’s possible we could move into final passage early this afternoon,” Nelson said Thursday.

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), one of the few lawmakers who voted against cloture on the substitute amendment, has said she won’t back the legislation if it doesn’t include a provision to address pilot fatigue.

Boxer has been pressing for an amendment that would limit cargo plane pilots to flying no more than nine hours a day — the same standard for passenger pilots. Cargo pilots can currently fly up to 16 hours a day.

“I can’t get a vote. That’s why I voted no,” Boxer said after the vote. “How do we do a bill like this and not address the number one safety issue facing us?”

Boxer said she is now working on a modified amendment to see if she can get it included in the amendment package.

“I’m going to try to do that at every chance I get,” she said.  And if “we can’t get it done here? Maybe some brave soul in the House will get it done.”