AUGUSTA, Maine - The U.S. Senate has passed legislation re-authorizing the programs of the Federal Aviation Administration, after failing to meet a March 31 deadline.
The legislation must now be reconciled with the House-passed measure, which has a provision Maine Sen. Susan Collins says would hurt Maine and other small states.
"I am pleased that it does not privatize the air traffic control system the way the House bill would do," Collins says.
The legislation would preserve weather stations at Maine airports, and bolster airport security. It also re-authorizes the fees needed by the F.A.A. to operate. Those will run out this summer unless Congress reaches agreement on the legislation.
