House finishes FAA amendment debate, votes set for Friday

The House late Thursday night accepted six amendments to the four-year extension of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The House concluded consideration of amendments after 9 p.m., and will return Friday at 9 a.m. to take up roll-call votes on a handful of amendments, then vote on the final bill. The most controversial amendment to be considered Friday would reverse a 2010 decision by the National Mediation Board that allows unions to be formed based on the votes only of voting workers.

Prior to this change, non-voting workers were counted as "no" votes for forming a union.

Thursday night, the House accepted by voice vote amendments that would:

• Allow airshows to take place in Cleveland at the same time the Cleveland Indians are playing nearby (Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo.)

• Require the FAA to continue discussions about safety at the Santa Monica Airport (Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif.)

• Require airports to inform small companies about pending contracts (Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Wis.)

• Prohibit the FAA from destroying vintage aircraft certificate data (Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo.)

• Require the Transportation Department to release terms on deeds in which the government conveys land to airports (Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah)

• Include a sense of the Congress that the Los Angeles International Airport consult with the local community on expansion plans (Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif.)