• H.R.2115, the “Flight 100-Century of Aviation Revitalization Act” introduced in May by Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), was combined with S.824, the “Aviation Investment and Revitalization Act,” introduced in April by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), and approved by unanimous consent in the Senate in late November. The bill reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration for four years and provides $59 billion in funding.
The bill did not have an easy flight through Congress. Although both Houses passed their individual bills (94 to 0 in the Senate and 418-8 in the House), differences in the bills necessitated a review by a joint conference committee for resolution. The conference committee report was issued in July and the House approved the agreement by the small margin of 211 to 207 after stripping a provision that would have allowed the FAA to privatize staff at 69 small and midsize towers.
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