CONGRESS STILL HAS LONG TO-DO LIST BEFORE 2024 Lawmakers avoided an end-of-year CR showdown. But that doesn’t mean their work is done for the year — far from it. Huddle on Wednesday detailed what the appropriations process will look like. But here’s a look at three other major unresolved items they have to address: Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization: When Congress passed the stopgap measure to keep the government open in September, it included an extension of the FAA’s operating authority through Dec. 31. But time to enact a full version is running out. The House passed its version of the bill earlier this year, but the Senate version is mired in disputes over pilot training rules. And punting the bill has consequences on the aviation industry. An independent report revealed that a rise in aviation near-misses points much of the blame on the Hill’s shutdown politics and inadequate funding for the FAA. Most likely outcome: It’s unlikely lawmakers can fast track the process to pass the FAA reauthorization. But there was some hope this week from Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.), chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Aviation Subcommittee. He said some lawmakers met recently with newly tapped FAA administrator Michael Whitaker and believes that he “has the potential to come in and break the logjam” on some of the contentious issues that have stifled the bill, notably pilot training rules. If that doesn’t happen, Congress will probably extend the current reauthorization because letting it expire could endanger air systems. Reauthorize and reform Section 702: The Section 702 foreign surveillance authority is set to expire at the end of the year and has been a subject of debate within the intelligence community because of privacy concerns. The legislation is meant to target the communications of foreigners outside the United States, but has come under fire because of its ability to sweep in Americans’ private communications. As Jordain noted, the Intelligence Committee's proposal isn’t yet finalized, and isn't expected to be rolled out until after the House returns from Thanksgiving. Most likely outcome: Lawmakers want to get reauthorization and reform done by the end of the year, but given the heavy lift, there's chatter among members about doing a short-term extension. National Defense Authorization Act: Issues with NDAA almost held up Senate passage of the CR earlier this week after Sen. Roger Wicker, the ranking member on the Armed Services Committee, sought to enter into negotiations with the House on the legislation. While both chambers have passed their versions of the NDAA, which sets the policy priorities for the Department of Defense, the House has moved to conference but the Senate hasn’t yet. The problem with going to conference is the House version is a partisan bill loaded with controversial amendments, while the Senate version is a bipartisan one without all the baggage. As a result, there are various policy items hanging in the balance. Most likely outcome: The House and Senate will likely go to conference when they’re back from recess after Wicker’s concerns held up the stopgap measure. POLITICO’s defense reporters Joe Gould and Connor O’Brien tell Huddle that the House Armed Services committee and Senate Armed Services committee leaders have been meeting informally for months on the must-pass legislation and are close to being done. — Daniella Diaz
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