Legislation to authorize increased funds for airport construction grants and other Federal Aviation Administration programs has cleared the House, but hurdles remain. The Senate hasn’t finished its version and supporters of the four-year House bill may not have the votes to fend off a possible presidential veto.
Aviation programs and taxes expire Sept. 30. With almost no chance of final action on a four-year bill by then, the House on Sept. 24 also passed a three-month extension to keep grants and tax revenue flowing until a final bill emerges. “We’re limping to the finish line when we should be sprinting,” says Todd Hauptli, American Association of Airport Executives’ senior executive vice president. “We’re still hopeful that we can get a multiyear bill done before Congress leaves for the year.”