Senate wraps up final votes of 2023, passes FAA reauthorization

Senators wrapped up the majority of its business for the year Tuesday as it held the final votes before lawmakers departed for the Christmas break.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced late Tuesday night that Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) lifted his hold on a temporary reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration’s authority and subsequently passed the three-month extension via unanimous consent. 

Bennet had kept his hold in place in order to give negotiators more time to hammer out a border deal to unlock aid for Ukraine, but both sides admitted in recent days that there is much more work to reach a framework deal, let alone on legislative text. Both sides are hopeful to have a deal in place by the time lawmakers return on Jan. 8. 

“[Bennet] has voiced increased optimism in getting a supplemental done, and I agree with the senator from Colorado,” Schumer said on the floor. “This won’t be easy, but we’ll keep working, because this is so important to our country and to the world.”

Schumer also advanced the nomination of John David Russell to become a district judge for the Northern District of Oklahoma by a voice vote and teed up a number of nominees to be voted on when the chamber reconvenes in the new year. 

The Senate will be in session Wednesday to conduct “housekeeping business,” but votes are not scheduled for three weeks. 

The upper chamber was slated to complete its work late last week, but returned Monday for work with the hopes of a border deal after negotiators met throughout the weekend. Senators involved in the talks have reported progress in recent days and believe momentum is in their direction, but that more time is needed to hammer out an agreement. 

“Our colleagues are making encouraging progress on this front,” Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in a joint statement. “Challenging issues remain, but we are committed to addressing needs at the southern border and to helping allies and partners confront serious threats in Israel, Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific.” 

“As negotiators work through remaining issues, it is our hope that their efforts will allow the Senate to take swift action on the national security supplemental early in the new year,” they continued. “In the time remaining this year, Senate and Administration negotiators will continue to work in good faith toward finalizing their agreement.”