After months of delay, the Senate Commerce Committee has approved a five-year Federal Aviation Administration bill that would increase infrastructure grants from the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program by 19 percent, to to 4 billion dollars per year.
The measure, which the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee approved on Feb. 8 via a voice vote, moves to the full Senate for debate. [View text of committee leaders’ substitute amendment here.]
The House had passed its version of a five-year FAA bill on July 29, on a bipartisan vote of 351-69.
The House measure would also provide $20 billion for the airport subsidy program.
Senate Commerce Chairwoman Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) said, “Our Senate bill addresses many of the pressing needs of our aviation system.” Cantwell added, “And we’re investing in airport infrastructure.”
The commission’s action represents a step forward for a proposal that had been stalled for months. In June, Cantwell had scheduled a panel vote on the FAA bill. But in a surprise move, he postponed that “dialing” session. There were disagreements over several controversial issues, including federal requirements for pilot training.
During the committee re-marking, the issue that generated the most debate was an amendment introduced by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) to raise the mandatory retirement age for pilots to 67, from the current ceiling of 65 years.
Blackburn’s proposal was defeated in a 14-13 vote.
Given the narrow margin, it would not be surprising to see the Blackburn amendment resurface when the FAA bill reaches the Senate floor.
