The No. 2 Republican in the Senate raised the possibility that Congress would need to pass a brief extension of the federal aviation bill making its way through the upper chamber.
Leadership is staring down a May 10 deadline to pass a five-year reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration. The bill enjoys overwhelming bipartisan support, clearing its first test vote on Wednesday by an 89-10 margin, but all 100 senators must agree to fast-track the legislation for it to pass before the end of next week.
Committee leaders in both chambers announced a compromise bill on Monday, ending months of gridlock that forced Washington to punt the reauthorization three times.
Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD) expects a fourth extension will be needed, though, as leadership remains at an impasse over a series of amendment votes senators want as the chamber takes up the legislation.
“You know, May 10 is just around the corner,” Thune said on Thursday. “We’re not here that much next week, and so, my assumption is that if we’re going to not have a lapse in the authority, there probably needs to be a short-term extension.”
Almost two dozen amendments had been filed in recent days as senators, some of whom are upset with the bill, demand votes before dropping their opposition. Washington, D.C.-area lawmakers want to strip out language expanding the number of round-trip flights at Reagan National Airport, while senators also see the must-pass bill as a chance to attach non-germane amendments, including new funding for an affordable internet program expiring this month.
Senate leadership will be reluctant to change the bill in any way that jeopardizes passage, but Thune said there had to be a process for some amendments to receive votes.
“I assume our folks are going to at least want some — particularly amendments that are germane to the bill — considered in the context of this multiyear authorization,” he said.
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He declined to say how long of an extension would be needed, but enough to “accommodate” the amendment process.
Thune’s statement is a shift in expectations. As of Thursday, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), the ranking Republican on the committee with jurisdiction over the FAA bill, told the Washington Examiner that he still thought it realistic to pass the reauthorization next week.