SENATE PASSES FAA REAUTHORIZATION BILL
March 25, 2010
What’s at Issue
On March 22, 2010, the U.S. Senate passed a two-year bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through September 30, 2011. FAA reauthorization legislation was included in H.R. 1586, legislation to amend a bill taxing recipients of Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) funding. The Senate did not take up its original bill, S. 1451, companion legislation to U.S. House of Representatives-passed legislation (H.R. 915), to ensure the removal of language included in S. 1451 that would make it easier for FedEx workers to unionize.
Why It’s Important
The legislation provides $34.5 billion for the FAA, an increase in funding for the agency, including the airport improvement program. In addition, the legislation contains a provision that increases the tax on aviation fuels and that automatically removes the fuel fraud provision.