President Joe Biden signed a one-week extension for federal aviation programs ahead of a key deadline after the Senate passed the measure on Thursday night. He used the autopen, a device for automatic signatures, to ensure there was no lapse in funding while he was traveling in San Francisco. The bill was transmitted to the White House on Friday afternoon. The autopen was first used by President Barack Obama and has been rarely used in the Biden administration, with physical bills sometimes being flown to Biden while he is traveling abroad.
In addition to the funding extension, the Senate also approved a bipartisan FAA reauthorization bill that renews authority for the agency for the next five years. The House will need to pass the legislation next. The bill aims to improve aviation safety, enhance protections for passengers and airline workers, and invest in airport and air travel infrastructure nationwide. It authorizes over $105 billion in funding for the FAA and $738 million for the National Transportation Safety Board for fiscal years 2024 through 2028.
The legislation contains provisions to address the nation’s shortage of air traffic controllers by expanding hiring, strengthen consumer protections for flight cancellations and delays, and implement technology to reduce the risk of runway collisions. Despite broad bipartisan support for the legislation, there was contentious debate over certain provisions. One such dispute revolved around adding more longer-distance flights to Reagan National Airport near Washington, DC, with some Senators pressing for an amendment vote to remove it from the package, though ultimately no votes were taken on amendments.
The House now has until next week to pass the Senate’s five-year reauthorization bill and send it to Biden’s desk for approval. Some lawmakers argue that adding more flights at Reagan National Airport will benefit consumers by providing more choices and lower prices, while others believe it will increase congestion and delays at the airport. The bill, if passed by the House, will provide essential funding and authority for the Federal Aviation Administration and seek to improve various aspects of the aviation industry over the next five years. Biden’s use of the autopen to sign the funding extension highlights the urgency and importance of maintaining federal aviation programs without interruptions.
