FAA overhaul

House leadership to shelve FAA overhaul

By Jake Sherman and Heather Caygle

The House Republican leadership is shelving plans to pass an overhaul of the Federal Aviation Administration, a major blow to House Transportation Chairman Bill Shuster of Pennsylvania, according to multiple senior aides

Instead, the House will revert to a short-term extension of the FAA's authority while "the Transportation Committee will continue their work on this transformative legislation," a leadership aide said Thursday. The FAA must be renewed by the end of March.

The larger FAA measure was a top priority for Shuster. The bill would transfer the nation's air-traffic control apparatus to a nonprofit company. He worked for years on the plan, twisting arms on his committee to get it through. For example, he exempted much of Alaska's air traffic assets from the bill at the request of Rep. Don Young after he threatened to vote against the legislation.

The bill was also a priority for Airlines for America, the lobby that represents every mainline U.S. air carrier except Delta. Shuster is very close with A4A, as it is known, and dates one of its top lobbyists. POLITICO reported that earlier this week, Shuster spent time lounging in Miami with Nick Calio, A4A's leader, and Shelley Rubino, the group's vice president and his girlfriend. The trip came days after Calio testified before Shuster's committee.

The FAA bill faced major resistance among members of the House Appropriations and Ways and Means committees, as well as in the Senate. Atlanta-based Delta is also staunchly opposed to it.

Shuster's office directed a request for comment to House leadership.