To provide for continued operation of the Federal Aviation Administration in the event of a lapse in appropriations.
Summary
HB5667 would create a temporary funding backstop for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) if Congress fails to enact appropriations on time. In the event of a lapse in appropriations, the bill would automatically appropriate whatever money is necessary to keep the FAA operating, but only for the shorter of 30 days or the length of the funding lapse. The measure is narrowly focused on preventing an immediate shutdown of FAA operations during a federal budget lapse.
The bill is designed to preserve continuity for aviation safety, air traffic control, and other FAA functions that could be disrupted by a government funding gap. By limiting the automatic appropriation to a short period, it aims to bridge temporary lapses without creating open-ended spending authority. The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the Committee on Appropriations, with no recorded votes or committee debate available in the provided materials.
Impact
If enacted, HB5667 would amend federal appropriations practice by providing a limited automatic appropriation for the FAA during a lapse in funding. It would affect the FAA directly and indirectly support airlines, airports, air traffic controllers, aviation workers, and the traveling public by reducing the risk of operational interruptions during a shutdown. The bill does not appear to change substantive aviation law; instead, it creates a temporary budgetary mechanism to keep the agency functioning during funding gaps.
Sentiment
The available record suggests generally supportive or precautionary sentiment, since the bill is framed as a continuity measure to avoid disruption in a critical safety agency. There are no committee transcripts, recorded votes, or public statements in the provided context showing organized opposition or support. The absence of debate makes it difficult to identify a broader political split, but the bill’s purpose indicates concern about shutdown-related disruptions rather than controversy over FAA policy itself.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential areas of debate, if the bill were considered further, could include whether the FAA should receive special shutdown protection, how long the automatic funding should last, and whether such a mechanism could reduce pressure on Congress to complete appropriations on time. However, no member or stakeholder positions are included here, so any contention remains speculative.
To direct the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to improve and expand electronic filing capabilities for Federal Aviation Administration Form 337, and for other purposes.
To provide for the continued operation of the Hatch Act Unit of the Office of Special Counsel during a lapse in appropriations, and for other purposes.
Calling on Federal law enforcement, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Aviation Administration, to provide an immediate briefing to the public regarding the recent drone activity in New Jersey and New York.