January 26, 2012

The Senate has approved a temporary extension of Federal Aviation Administration programs, avoiding a shutdown of the agency as lawmakers work out their last remaining differences on a long-term plan.

A bill to extend FAA programs through Feb. 17 was approved
Thursday by a voice vote -- the 23rd such extension since 2007. The
agency's operating authority had been due to expire on Jan. 31. The
House passed an identical extension earlier this week.

Lawmakers said House and Senate negotiators are near an
agreement on a final bill but need time to resolve a handful of
remaining issues. None is seen as an obstacle to passage.

Negotiators recently reached a compromise on rules for how
airline workers can form unions, which had been holding up passage
of a long-term bill.