Sens. Mitch McConnell, left, and Chuck Schumer. (Getty Images)
"If we let funding for the FAA lapse, it could be disastrous for the safety of our skies and the efficiency of our airports," he warned his colleagues on Wednesday.
While the re-authorization passed the Senate, it still needs to be voted on by the House before heading to President Biden. However, the House has already adjourned for the week.
Before leaving, lawmakers in the lower chamber passed a one-week extension to the FAA, giving them time to consider its re-authorization when they return next week.
After passing the FAA bill, the Senate approved the House's week-long stopgap measure to extend the FAA by unanimous consent.
The FAA re-authorization appeared to have the widespread support of senators on a key procedural vote last week, with only 10 lawmakers opposing cloture for the bill. 89 voted in favor of limiting debate on the motion to proceed, far more than the necessary 60.
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The Senate passed a five-year reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Thursday. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
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One concern for Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, is the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)'s acceptance of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) app as valid identification for illegal immigrants. He offered as an amendment to the FAA bill his previously introduced VALID Act, which would specifically prevent use of the app as an ID for migrants.
Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, in particular, wanted to see the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides subsidized high-speed internet to low-income families, extended as a part of the FAA's five-year extension.
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Additionally, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., had continued his push to have his bill that would compensate nuclear radiation victims added to the measure, which he had lobbied to have considered in various major pieces of legislation. The bill passed the Senate but hasn't been taken up in the lower chamber.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, the ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee, remarked last week that the bill would be "a bicameral and a bipartisan accomplishment. It is the culmination of many months of work between us and our staffs and is reflective of the priorities of a great many Senators."
Julia Johnson is a politics writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, leading coverage of the U.S. Senate. She was previously a politics reporter at the Washington Examiner.
Follow Julia's reporting on X at @JuliaaJohnson_ and send tips to Julia.Johnson@fox.com.
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