The Senate is struggling to come to an agreement and avoid a pause in the program before Friday's deadline as they work to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Key senators have stated that while progress has been made in extending the FAA's authority for five years, there are still obstacles they are trying to navigate in order to finish their work by the end of the week. These obstacles come in the form of non-related amendments that lawmakers on both sides are requesting as part of a last-chance effort to move priorities on the final proposal Congress will work on until the fall.
Senator John Thune (S.D.), the No. 2 Senate Republican, said that the current situation is unclear and uncertain, with many holds in place.
Leaders on both sides are trying to prevent unrelated amendments from being voted on and added to the final product, arguing that if one member gets a vote, many others will object, further complicating the passage of the bill.
This makes it increasingly unlikely that any non-related amendments will be included in the bill. As of Tuesday night, there are up to a dozen holds on the package, with Thune adding that the completion of their work will depend on people’s willingness to stay around.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on the floor that a lot of cooperation will be needed to complete this complicated bill. He urged his colleagues on both sides to prioritize reaching an outcome to prevent missing the deadline.
Schumer set up the package for a procedural vote on Thursday, requiring 60 votes to advance.
This came after progress was made on multiple fronts for negotiators. Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas), the top Republican on the panel, unveiled an updated provision in the bill that aligns more closely with the new rule rolled out by the Biden administration, regarding automatic refunds for those whose flights are delayed or canceled.
The inclusion also matches a proposed amendment by Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.).
Cruz, who participated in Tuesday’s GOP leadership meeting, also stated that the final blueprint will include a manager’s package with nine bipartisan amendments, all related to aviation or travel.
The Texas Republican indicated that the FAA proposal should be completed by the end of the week and that a short-term extension would be unnecessary.
“I think we have a very good prospect of passing the bill by the end of the week. That’s what I’d like to see happen,” Cruz told reporters.
Negotiators are still looking for a time agreement to speed up the passage of the final version, but that is unlikely to happen due to several members who are insistent on amendment votes.
Lawmakers had hoped to use the bill to pass a number of unrelated items, including the Kids Online Safety Act and the House's tax bill.
Hawley said on Tuesday that he will not allow members to speed up the process without having a vote on his proposal to renew a $50 billion compensation program to help nuclear radiation victims.
Hawley stated, “I will [object]. … If they don’t give me a vote on [the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act], there will be no time agreement from me,” adding, “They won’t get consent from me.”
