Airport Alert: Senate Clears Short-Term CR and Defense Bill

As negotiations on a coronavirus relief package continue, the Senate today approved a week-long continuing resolution and a defense authorization bill.  The House has already approved both measures, so today's action clears the way for the President to sign the CR into law.  However, the White House has threatened to veto the defense bill.   

Continuing Resolution
 
Lawmakers had hoped to close out the Fiscal Year 2021 appropriations process before the current short-term measure expires at midnight tonight.  However, lawmakers need more time to resolve their remaining differences.  
 
The latest stop-gap spending bill, which the Senate cleared by voice vote, will keep the government operating through December 18.  It will also give lawmakers more time to try to hammer out a deal on an omnibus spending package that includes funding for the Departments of Transportation and Homeland Security.
 
National Defense Authorization Act

The $740 billion defense bill includes several PFAS-related provisions and language that would prohibit airports from using AIP funds to purchase boarding bridges from foreign companies that violate intellectual property rights of the United States.  The Senate approved the measure by a vote of 84-13.

The annual National Defense Authorization Act has strong bipartisan and bicameral support.  House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA), Ranking Member Mac Thornberry (R-TX) and other lawmakers have pointed out that Congress has passed a defense authorization bill 'for 59 straight years.'

However, the President has threatened to veto the latest defense measure, in part, because it would not repeal Section 230 of Communications Decency Act, which provides liability protection to social media companies.  The bill would also require the Pentagon to remove Confederate names from military installations within three years.

See our previous Alert for more details on the PFAS- and AIP-related provisions in the bill. 

Coronavirus Relief 

Meanwhile, talks continue on the coronavirus relief front. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) yesterday said that negotiators are 'making progress.' 

Two big issues are continuing to hold up an agreement: funding for state and local governments – a top priority for Democrats and liability protection – a top priority for Republicans. To complicate matters, the White House is calling for $600 stimulus checks, which could cut into funding for unemployment compensation and other relief proposals.

We're continuing our push for additional airport funding. A $908 billion bipartisan and bicameral plan that lawmakers unveiled last week proposes $4 billion for airports. As discussions continue on Capitol Hill we urge you to weigh in with your Senators and House members and remind them of the urgent need to get federal help to airports in the next coronavirus relief package.  
 
Draft talking points are available from our previous Action Alert.