NSDA members - this is a general look ahead from Manatt for your awareness, so please bring your comments or questions to the Federal Advocacy Committee meeting this week where we will have a deeper conversation about SDFAA and our Fly IN events.

Congress is in session.

• The Senate returns today to consider permitting reform and pending nominations. The Senate is scheduled to be in session Monday and Tuesday.
• The House also returns today to consider several measures under suspension of the rules. The House is scheduled to be in session Monday through Thursday.
  • The House is slated to vote on 14 suspension bills Monday and Tuesday, including the Disaster Loan Outreach Consistency Act (H.R. 10355), which would require the Small Business Administration (SBA) to ensure that disaster loan outreach materials contain accurate, current, and consistent information.

Government Funding Update:

Republican and Democratic leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees are planning to meet this week to determine a path forward on FY 2027 funding. With Democrats set to control both chambers in the 120th Congress, congressional Democrats have a strong incentive to pass another short-term continuing resolution (CR) rather than complete full-year appropriations during the lame-duck session. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-MD), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, said, “Now that we have these kinds of majorities, I don’t know that we need a long-term bill…I’d be leaning more towards a short-term fix.”

Permitting:

The Senate is scheduled to vote today at 5:30 PM on whether to begin debate on the bipartisan permitting bill, the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA) (S. 5653), a procedural vote that will require 60 votes. The permitting reform bill is intended to make the approval and construction of major infrastructure and energy projects faster and more predictable. The bipartisan legislation would establish tighter timelines for federal permitting and environmental reviews while modifying several environmental and historic preservation laws that govern the approval process. On Saturday, November 7, Senate permitting negotiators released a manager’s amendment making several changes to the package, including removing language defining which properties may have cultural significance to Tribal groups under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and adding language to allow the government to counter a developer’s claims that an agency interfered with a project or targeted particular industries.

Leadership Changes:

Sen. Murkowski (R-AK) Poised to Become Appropriations Ranking Member:

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), the most senior Republican on the Appropriations Committee, plans to serve as Ranking Member on the Committee. Sen. Murkowski has vowed to “get back to governing in the middle.” She has previously denounced the Trump administration’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) proposed rule and rescission packages.

Rep. Larsen (D-WA) Officially Launches Bid for T&I Chair: On November 4, Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA), the current Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee, sent a Dear Colleague letter, announcing his bid for T&I Chair. In the letter, he stated that, as Chair, he would lead efforts to invest in surface transportation and improve rail safety, reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration, conduct rigorous oversight of the administration’s politicization of grants and the Kennedy Center, and work to develop next-generation policies to advance transportation safety, resilience, and innovation.

Senate Republicans Hold Leadership Elections: Senate Republicans will hold leadership elections Tuesday, November 10 at 9:00 AM, with current Republican Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) running for Minority Leader. Several conservative senators have called for postponing the leadership election. House Republicans will also face a reshuffling of their leadership team following significant midterm losses. Reps. Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Steve Scalise (R-LA) are competing for Minority Leader, while current Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) and Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX) are seeking the Minority Whip position. Current Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain (R-MI) faces challenges from Reps. Erin Houchin (R-IN) and Greg Steube (R-FL).

Incoming Members Attend New Member Orientation: More than 100 incoming House members, along with the newly elected senators, will attend new member orientation in D.C. this week.

Hegseth Impeachment Effort: Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) is expected to introduce new articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth this week. Some Republicans think the effort could pass in the House following Republican midterm losses and amid expected Republican absences.

Hearings and Markups:

Aviation: The House Transportation and Infrastructure Aviation Subcommittee will hold a hearing to examine the delivery of the new air traffic control system on Tuesday.

Environment: The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing on the nomination of Justin Schwab to be Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation of the EPA on Tuesday.

Transportation: The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee will hold a hearing on several nominations, including Leslie Becera to be Assistant Secretary of Transportation and Danielle Thumann Severs to be a member of the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday.

Education: The House Education and the Workforce Committee will hold a field hearing, entitled Workers in Charge: Restoring Choice and Accountability in the Workplace, on Friday. 

Top stories:

Stakeholders weigh passing permitting reform bill during the lame-duck session (POLITICO)

Sen. McCormick (R-PA) urges party to delay leadership elections (The Hill)

Midterm election results shape lame-duck agenda (NYT)