The Senate cleared an extension of the Federal Aviation Administration’s funding authority until March after Colorado Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet lifted his hold on the bill, averting a lapse in the FAA’s authority before senators leave for the holidays.
The bill, passed by unanimous consent Tuesday evening, now goes to the president and would be the second extension of the FAA’s funding authority in the last three months as senators continue to negotiate a long-term FAA reauthorization bill that’s been held up since June.
“The authorization we drafted on a bipartisan basis addresses airport infrastructure, workforce challenges, ATC [air traffic controller] staffing, protections for passengers, the safety framework, manufacturing, I could go on,” said Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation ranking member Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in a floor speech last week. “But we need to make sure we get it right.”
