July brought a flurry of legislative activity as both Congressional chambers returned from July 4th recess with full agendas, but few legislative days remaining before the mid-term elections.
Government spending dominated much of the conversation, between a White House supplemental spending request and Congressional efforts to fund the government at current levels beyond the fiscal year. As part of its ongoing advocacy for air traffic control modernization, NATA and other Modern Skies Coalition members asked Congressional leaders to include ATC funding in any spending vehicle and to avoid another government shutdown. The letter asks Congress to close the gap on the additional $20 billion FAA and DOT leaders have deemed necessary to complete the new system.
Before adjourning a week early for its August recess, the House passed a $95 billion “Reconciliation 3.0” framework as well as a continuing resolution to fund the government through December 4. Both efforts face an uncertain future in the Senate, where appropriators are engaged in bipartisan funding negotiations ahead of a planned August 7 adjournment, even as the White House calls for the Senate to cancel its August recess.