WASHINGTON — The House and Senate passed a bill Thursday that authorizes the operations for the Federal Aviation Administration for six more months, averting a partial shutdown of some aviation programs.
The short-term extension passed just two days before authorization was set to expire on September 30.
According to Politico, failure to extend FAA authorization could impact airport funding and result in furlough of thousands of workers.
Officials in Vermont say federal support through the FAA is critical to aviation programs in the state.
A draft of a long-term FAA reauthorization bill stalled in Congress earlier this year as House Republicans worked to get support for a controversial measure included in the legislation that would privatize the air traffic control program.
Though the concept of privatizing air traffic control operations has high profile supporters, including President Donald Trump, the level of support in Congress was not clear.
A spokesperson for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee said last week that the momentum is growing around the proposal, “and that should help propel the bill to a House vote in October.”
The bill also included language that will provide tax breaks to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands — a measure included to aid in recovery from Hurricane Maria.
