House Votes to Extend FAA Funding and Authorization

Brothers and Sisters,

As we reported previously, we face the threat of another government shutdown at 12:01am Saturday, March 2. On Wednesday afternoon, Congressional leaders announced an agreement on several annual spending bills, including funding for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The U.S. House of Representatives just passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) that pushes the appropriations deadline back a week to 12:01am Saturday, March 9.

The legislation now will go to the U.S. Senate for passage. Once this CR is passed, lawmakers will have another week to finalize and pass several appropriations bills including one for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.

Congressional leaders indicated they will release the details of each of the bills by the end of this weekend. The House of Representatives could take up the bills as soon as Wednesday, March 6. Once they pass the House and the Senate next week, funding for those agencies, including the FAA, would go through September 30, 2024.

Additionally, FAA authorization expires on March 8. The committees of jurisdiction in the House and Senate agreed to pass an extension to the FAA’s existing authorization until May 10, to give themselves time to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of FAA reauthorization. The U.S. House of Representatives also passed this FAA authorization extension today. It now goes to the Senate for passage.

We will continue to provide timely updates to NATCA members regarding actions by the U.S. Senate related to this appropriation CR and FAA authorization extension.

Our Union will continue to use every resource to advocate for Congress to act and avert a government shutdown and an FAA shutdown. 

In Solidarity,
The National Executive Board