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September 29, 2008
CONGRESS PASSES SEVERAL MEASURES TO FUND FAA, KEEP GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONING THROUGH MARCH 2009
On September 23, the House and Senate passed the FAA Extension Act of 2008, Part II (H.R. 6984) in order to extend aviation programs and taxes for six months through March 31, 2009. The previous FAA reauthorization act (P.L. 108-176) expired on September 30, 2007 . While the House passed its version of FAA reauthorization (H.R. 2881) to reauthorize FAA programs for FY 2008 through FY 2011 on September 30, 2007, the Senate has been unable to complete work on its version of the bill. As such, Congress has passed a series of short-term FAA extension acts in order to keep the agency functioning. The most recent of these acts (P.L. 110-253) is set to expire on September 30, 2008.
"In order to continue to provide essential safety and capacity improvement funds to our airport, we must pass this extension," said Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.), chair of the House Aviation Subcommittee, during introduction of H.R. 6984. The bill passed the House by voice vote and was then sent to the Senate, where it also passed by unanimous consent via voice vote.
H.R. 6984 extends aviation programs and taxes for six months beginning October 1, 2008 through March 31, 2009 . The bill authorizes $4.5 billion for FAA operations, $1.36 billion for facilities and equipment (F&E), and $8.5 million for research, engineering and development. When annualized, these amounts represent the average of the House and Senate Appropriations committee markups for these programs for FY 2009. The bill also provides $1.95 billion for the Airport Improvement Program, which, when annualized, is consistent with both the House and Senate versions of reauthorization. In addition, the bill extends the aviation excise taxes and the FAA's authority to make expenditures from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund. Several other provisions of the previous reauthorization were also extended.
With this extension act, it is anticipated that a four-year FAA reauthorization will not be passed this year. As such, the entire process will have to begin again in the new year. Since the extension act is set to expire on March 30, 2009, this will give the new Congress and administration limited time to redraft, mark up and pass a new reauthorization bill. PASS will continue to work with members of Congress in order to ensure that any reauthorization bill contains important provisions aimed at protecting and promoting the work of bargaining unit employees, including critical language regarding the contract negotiations process and increases in inspector staffing.
During this same time, members of Congress were working to put together a massive continuing resolution package in order to keep government agencies functioning through March 6, 2009. On September 25, the House passed the FY 2009 Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act (H. Res. 1488) by a vote of 370-58. The vehicle for the funding package is the FY 2008 Homeland Security bill (H.R. 2638). The Senate passed the measure on September 27 by a vote of 78-12.
The more than $600 billion continuing resolution package will fund the government through March 6, 2009, including funding for the Department of Transportation, and provide $22.9 billion for disaster relief. Most government programs included in the resolution are funded at FY 2008 levels, with exceptions being made to provide considerable increases to funding for military construction and the departments of Defense, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs. The majority of funding for the FAA is set at FY 2008 levels, with a minimal increase for operations from $8.74 billion to $8.76 billion. Within this amount, there is language in the continuing resolution indicating that not less than $1.1 billion be made available for aviation safety activities.
Also included in the resolution is a 3.9 percent pay raise for civilian federal employees. This raise is 1 percent higher than the increase proposed by the president in February and identical to the amount granted to members of the military in the FY 2009 Defense authorization bill. "The Washington-area delegation works hard every year to provide employees of the federal government with a pay adjustment that recognizes the vital contributions they make," said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.). "I am pleased that we have acted once again in the spirit of pay parity to secure fair adjustment for all sectors of our federal workforce."
At press, both the FAA extension act and the continuing resolution had been sent to the White House for the president's signature. Work will continue this week on the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act and Congress will then be in recess. While Congress will not officially adjourn until the end of the year, it is anticipated that they will not reconvene unless there is an emergency.
ABSENTEE AND EARLY VOTING FOR THE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Voting is the most important thing you can do this election year, but that does not mean you have to be in the voting booth on November 4. If you cannot get to the polls or simply do not want to deal with the lines, you should educate yourself on the absentee and early voting laws for your state to make sure you get to cast your vote. Some states have very specific laws governing the absentee and early voting processes, while others have no restrictions (see list below). For all states, however, there are timelines and other rules that must be followed so you should find out about the laws for your area as soon as you know you will not be able to vote on Election Day. For more information and easy access to the rules for your state, visit www.vote411.org.
States With No Restrictions on Absentee/Early Voting
Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Iowa
Kansas
Maine
Maryland (early voting not available)
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Jersey
New Mexico
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
South Dakota
Utah
Vermont
Washington
State (early voting not available)
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
States That Allow Absentee/Early Voting With State-Specific Restrictions
Alabama (early voting not available)
Arkansas
Connecticut (early voting not available)
Delaware
District of Columbia
Illinois
Indiana
Kentucky
Louisiana
Massachusetts
Michigan (early voting not available)
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
New Hampshire (early voting not available)
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island (early voting not available)
South Carolina
Tennessee (restrictions only if voting by mail)
Texas
Virginia
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