The House of Representatives failed Monday evening to pass a
six-month funding extension for the Federal Aviation Administration after Democrats
objected to the process under which the bill was brought forward.
The Republican majority in the House had hoped to pass the
bill under a fast-track procedure known as "Suspension of the Rules"
that requires a two-thirds vote. But Democrats objected to Republicans drafting
the bill without Democratic consultation. Along with FAA reauthorization, the
bill included measures for hurricane disaster relief and private flood
insurance, and to extend funding for certain designated healthcare programs.
Democrats called those measures inadequate during debate on
the House floor.
"It's sad that it's come to this point today, and my
hope is we will move forward soon," said Rep. Pete DeFazio, (D-Ore.) the
leading Democrat in the House transportation committee.
Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Penn.), the chair of that committee,
reminded House members that the extension must be passed by Sept. 30 to prevent
a partial shutdown of FAA operations.
A long-term House FAA reauthorization bill has yet to reach
the floor for a vote due to controversy over a Shuster-championed proposal to
put a private, nonprofit organization in charge of air traffic control rather
than the FAA.
"I believe we will move the bipartisan bill through the
House in the next few weeks," Shuster said.
The House GOP could still bring forward an FAA extension
bill later this week in a manner that requires only a majority vote for
passage.
The House and Senate must agree on the same FAA funding
extension bill ahead of the Sept. 30 deadline for the legislation to be signed
by president Donald Trump.