THE DAILY WHIP: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

H.Res.533 - [2] Rule providing for consideration of The Conference Report on H.R. 658 - FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act (Rep. Mica - Transportation and Infrastructure/Science, Space, and Technology/Judiciary). The Rules committee has recommended a closed Rule that provides for 60 minutes of general debate on the Conference Report. The Rule allows no amendments and one motion to recommit. It also waives all points of order against the legislation.

Conference Report on H.R. 658 [3] - FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act (Rep. Mica - Transportation and Infrastructure/Science, Space, and Technology/Judiciary).  The Conference Report authorizes $63.4 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for four years, through fiscal year 2015. The measure's authorization of funding for the Federal Aviation Administration is consistent with fiscal year 2012 appropriation levels. The last full FAA reauthorization expired in 2007. After having 23 additional temporary extensions, this long-term legislation will extend certain FAA program authorities and help to improve aviation infrastructure. 

In addition to authorizing funding, the Conference Report contains other provisions. It essentially freezes eligibility for the Essential Air Service (EAS) program to current participants, and increases the number of flights permitted for long-distance travel each day in and out of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport by 16 slots. The measure contains a number of labor provisions, including changes to the National Mediation Board and the way union elections are organized in the aviation and rail industries.

Bill Text for the Conference Report:
PDF Version [4]

Complete Consideration of and H.R. 3578 [5] - Baseline Reform Act of 2011 (Rep. Woodall - Budget) H.R. 3578 would change CBO’s rules for creating the discretionary baseline. Currently, CBO assumes annual adjustments, which reflect inflation and population growth to reflect the cost of maintaining current services.  This bill would remove these adjustments, underestimating budget needs for future years to pave the way for additional tax cuts. Under the Budget Control Act, statutory caps on discretionary appropriations were imposed for all years through 2021. Should H.R. 3578 become law, CBO would project appropriations to stay below these caps, allowing them to be characterized as a “spending increase.” H.R. 3578 continues the pattern of the Republicans putting partisan legislation on the Floor that will not help the economy.

The Baseline Budget Reform Act of 2012 does nothing to create a single job, to reduce the deficit by a single penny, or to put the country on a fiscally sustainable path. Instead, this bill would obscure the size of the fiscal problem facing us. Yesterday, the House completed all debate on H.R. 3578. Only votes on the motion to recommit and final passage are pending.  

Bill Text for H.R. 3578:
HTML Version [6]
PDF Version   [7]
Background for H.R. 3578:
House Report (HTML Version) [8]
House Report (PDF Version) [9]