Senators are working quickly to pass a major bill that will authorize the Federal Aviation Administration for the next five years. However, numerous amendments have been added to the 1,068-page bill, raising concerns about potential compromises and the looming May 10 deadline.
Lawmakers who were not involved in the negotiations are now seeking modifications and additions to the bill, some of which are unrelated to the main legislation. This aviation bill is seen as the last must-pass bill until September, making it the lawmakers’ final chance to enact their priorities into law for the rest of the year.
There have been delays in finalizing the bill, with disagreements over amendment proposals. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer continues to push for bipartisan cooperation to expedite the process.
If an agreement is not reached soon, there may be talk of a short-term extension to give negotiators more time to address the various requests. However, some Senate leaders are wary of the potential issues this could create due to staff shortages and the need for new funding for technology upgrades.
Several amendments have been proposed by senators, including one regarding airline refunds led by Sens. Hawley and Warren. Other amendments cover topics such as adding new daily flights at Reagan National Airport, improving security measures for disrupting passengers, altering pilot retirement age regulations, cracking down on credit card fees, expanding compensation for victims of radiation exposure, and implementing new guidelines for children’s online safety.
Overall, the Senate faces the challenge of navigating through these amendments and passing the FAA reauthorization bill before the deadline.
