Look Ahead to the Week of May 13: House Takes on FAA Reauthorization

Both the House and Senate are in session this week.

At the end of last week, after much consternation, the Senate passed with widespread bipartisan support an agreement (H.R. 3935) extending the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) authorization through fiscal year 2028. A key reason for the delay was a provision in the package to increase the number of flights in and out of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Senators from Virginia and Maryland fought unsuccessfully to remove the provision, and the reauthorization ultimately passed unamended.

To give the House time to consider the long-term reauthorization, Congress also passed a one-week stopgap measure to prevent a lapse of the FAA’s authority. It is expected the House will quickly pass the reauthorization. The House will also vote on a collection of law enforcement-related legislation in honor of National Police Week.

Separately, congressional appropriators are working on the fiscal year 2025 spending bills with the hopes of beginning committee markups by the end of May. However, key negotiators have still yet to agree on the topline spending numbers, which complicates the drafting process. Government funding expires on September 30, and many are expecting this year to continue to be extremely difficult, raising the likelihood that a lame-duck deal will be the most viable option.

Administration

On Tuesday, President Biden will deliver remarks at the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies annual gala in Washington. Later in the week, Biden will address the annual police memorial service at the Capitol and speak at the National Museum of African American History and Culture before traveling to Atlanta for a political fundraiser.

House Side

On Tuesday, the House will meet to consider multiple bills under suspension.

• Bills expected under suspension of the rules.
  • H.R. 4510 – NTIA Reauthorization Act of 2024, as amended (Rep. Latta – Energy and Commerce). The legislation would reauthorize and reorganize the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, including modifications to federal spectrum management.
  • H.R. 4581 – Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act of 2023, as amended (Rep. Hinson – Energy and Commerce). The legislation would expand the scope of the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grants to support evidence-based programs and research to prevent stillbirths.
  • H.R. 6960 – Emergency Medical Services for Children Reauthorization Act of 2024, as amended (Rep. Buddy Carter – Energy and Commerce). The legislation would reauthorize through fiscal year 2029 the Health and Human Services Department’s Emergency Medical Services for Children Program, which provides grants and support to states and medical schools.
  • H.R. 2964– WIPPES Act, as amended (Rep. McClain – Energy and Commerce). The legislation would require packages of nonflushable disposable wipes to have “Do Not Flush” labels and symbols.
  • H.R. 1797 – Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act, as amended (Rep. Ritchie Torres – Energy and Commerce). The bill would require the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to issue safety standards for lithium-ion batteries used in electric bicycles and scooters to protect against the risk of fires.
  • H.R. 3950 – TICKET Act, as amended (Rep. Bilirakis – Energy and Commerce). The bill would require event ticket sellers and resellers to disclose the total price of tickets and provide refunds for canceled or postponed events.
  • H.R. 4310 – Youth Poisoning Protection Act, as amended (Rep. Trahan – Energy and Commerce). The bill would ban retailers from selling products with high concentrations of the food preservative sodium nitrite, which has been pushed online as an easily accessible method of suicide, directly to consumers.
  • H.R. 4814 – Consumer Safety Technology Act, as amended (Rep. Soto – Energy and Commerce). The bill would require the CPSC to establish a pilot program to explore the use of artificial intelligence.
  • H.R. 5390 – Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act (Rep. Miller-Meeks – Energy and Commerce). The legislation would require the Commerce Department to conduct a study to identify high-demand products within each critical infrastructure sector that are imported due to supply chain constraints.
  • H.R. 6132 – Awning Safety Act of 2023 (Rep. Balderson – Energy and Commerce). The legislation would require the CPSC to publish a final consumer product standard for fixed and freestanding retractable awnings under its jurisdiction.
  • H.R. 6571 – Promoting Resilient Supply Chains Act of 2023, as amended (Rep. Bucshon – Energy and Commerce). The bill would require the Commerce Department to implement a program to promote U.S. supply chain resilience and develop best practices for domestic manufacturers to reduce supply chain disruptions.
  • H.R. 6572 – Deploying American Blockchains Act of 2023, as amended (Rep. Bucshon – Energy and Commerce). The bill would establish the Commerce Department as principal adviser to the president on the deployment and use of blockchain or other “distributed ledger technology.”
  • H.R. 6543 – No Hidden FEES Act of 2023 (Rep. Young Kim – Energy and Commerce). The bill would require hotels and other short-term lodging providers to display all fees up front to customers.
  • H.R. 7659 – Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2024, as amended – (Rep. Sam Graves– Transportation and Infrastructure). The bill would reauthorize the Coast Guard through fiscal year 2026.
  • H.Con.Res. 106 – Expressing support for local law enforcement officers and condemning efforts to defund local law enforcement agencies (Rep. Ezell – Judiciary). The concurring resolution would express congressional support for local law enforcement officers and condemn calls to defund or dismantle the police.
  • S. 546 – Recruit and Retain Act (Sen. Fischer – Judiciary). The legislation would expand the Community Oriented Policing Services Program to support law enforcement recruitment activities.

  Wednesday – Friday, the House is scheduled to meet for legislative business and additional measures under suspension.

• Bills expected under a rule.
  • H.R. 354 – LEOSA Reform Act of 2024 (Rep. Bacon – Judiciary). The legislation would permit qualified off-duty and retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed firearms in more areas subject to federal prohibition, including national parks and school zones.
  • H.R. 7343 – Detain and Deport Illegal Aliens Who Assault Cops Act (Rep. Van Drew – Judiciary). The legislation would require Immigration and Customs Enforcement to take into custody migrants who are arrested for assaulting law enforcement officers.
  • H.R. 8146 – Police Our Border Act (Rep. D'Esposito – Judiciary). The measure would require the Justice Department to report to Congress on the effect that Biden Administration border and immigration policies are having on federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
  • H.Res. 1213 – A resolution regarding violence against law enforcement officers (Rep. Stauber – Judiciary). The resolution would condemn calls to defund the police, which it claims have increased violence toward law enforcement officers.
  • H.Res. 1210 – Condemning the Biden border crisis and the tremendous burdens law enforcement officers face as a result (Rep. Higgins – Judiciary). The resolution would posit that dangers and challenges faced by law enforcement “are exacerbated by the unprecedented crisis at the border, which affects the entire country.”
  • H.R. 7581 – Improving Law Enforcement Office Safety and Wellness Through Data Act of 2024 (Rep. Dan Bishop – Judiciary). The measure would require the Justice Department to report to Congress on aggression and attacks against law enforcement officers and on creating a new category in the Uniform Crime Reporting System and National Incident-Based Reporting System on such incidents.
  • H.R. 7530 – DC CRIMES Act of 2024 (Rep. Donalds – Oversight and Accountability). The legislation would require the District of Columbia to revise its definition of youth offenders to cover individuals 18 or younger, rather than under 25.
  • H.R. __ – Israel Security Assistance Support Act (Rep. Calvert – Appropriations). The legislation would prohibit the Defense and State departments from using appropriated funds for fiscal year 2024 or previous years to withhold security assistance to Israel.

Senate Side

On Tuesday, the Senate will vote on the nomination of Courtney Diesel O’Donnell to be ambassador to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has also scheduled votes on the nominations of Judge Sanket Bulsara to be a judge for the Eastern District of New York and Seth Aframe to be a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

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