On April 13, House lawmakers introduced the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (H.R. 4). The bill would provide a five-year reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Of note, the measure does not contain the controversial proposal to privatize the air traffic control system — an issue that snarled up previous reauthorization bills. Current reauthorization for the FAA is set to expire on Sept. 30.
The 2018 FAA bill contains a revenue title (Title VIII) that would extend the taxes that fund the Airport and Airway Trust Fund (e.g., fuel tax, airfare tax, etc.). More importantly, the revenue title provides a placeholder for other tax provisions — Republicans are looking to use it for technical corrections and extenders.
The House is aiming to take up the bill as soon as possible. However, timing on the Senate side remains uncertain.