Airport Alert: Lawmakers Unveil Stop-Gap Funding Bill; Measure To Keep Government Operating Through Dec. 11
September 21, 2020
House Democrats today unveiled a continuing resolution that would keep the government operating through December 11. With the end of the fiscal year quickly approaching on September 30, Congress needs to pass a stop-gap measure before the end of the month to avoid a government shutdown.
The proposed CR -- which does not yet appear to have bipartisan support -- would give lawmakers until after the November elections to try to reach agreement on Fiscal Year 2021 appropriations bills. The House has cleared ten of the twelve annual spending bills, but the Senate has been slow to act. The Senate Appropriations Committee has yet to approve a single spending bill amid partisan disputes over funding levels, coronavirus, policing efforts and other issues.
Airport and Airway Trust Fund Fix: The short-term CR is relatively "clean." However, the measure includes a critical fix for the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, which is suffering from a dramatic drop in revenue due to low passenger levels and the temporary suspension of aviation excise taxes through the end of the year that was included in the CARES Act to help ailing carriers. The CR would bolster the sagging AATF with a $14 billion transfer from the general fund.
Long List of Funding Proposals Excluded: The CR does not include funding for a long list of spending proposals to assist ailing industries including $30 billion that was contemplated to help farmers and ranchers. For aviation, the measure does not include funding for airports, concessionaires, or the airlines, who have mounted a full-out lobbying blitz along with their unions pressing for an extension of the Payroll Support Program.
The CARES Act included $25 billion for passenger carriers and a prohibition on involuntary layoffs or furloughs through September 30. Airlines, labor groups and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are pressing for another $25 billion to extend the PSP through March - a move that would prevent passenger carriers from laying off or furloughing tens of thousands of employees.
What's Next: Lawmakers are expected pass a stop-gap measure to prevent a government shutdown. However, it doesn't appear to be wrapped up yet. During today's Rules Committee session, Republicans criticized the Democrats for making "last-minute" changes. And it is our understanding that Senate Republicans have yet to sign off on the proposal.
We will keep you posted as more information becomes available on government funding beyond September 30. In the meantime, we urge you to continue weighing in with lawmakers about the need for additional funding for airports, concessionaires, and our industry partners in the next coronavirus relief package.
