This bill makes sure the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can keep operating smoothly even when Congress hasn't passed a budget for it yet. Think of it as an emergency backup fund. If the FAA doesn't have a regular budget in place when a new fiscal year starts, this bill automatically provides money from an existing aviation insurance fund so the FAA can continue running all its normal operations at the same level as the previous year. The FAA can use most of this backup fund, but has to keep at least $1 billion set aside. If even that isn't enough money to keep everything running, the FAA must prioritize paying the people who work in air traffic control—like the air traffic controllers who guide planes—before cutting other programs.

The bill also makes permanent a special insurance program for airlines. This program gives free insurance coverage to certain airlines that work under government contracts, especially those doing work that's important for national security or U.S. foreign policy. The government agency requesting the airline's services has to agree to cover any losses if something goes wrong. Basically, this bill ensures that the FAA won't shut down due to budget delays and guarantees that airlines critical to national defense have the insurance they need to operate.

Aviation Funding Solvency Act

Graves, Sam

Aviation Funding Solvency ActThis bill provides continuing appropriations to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) if (1) an appropriations bill for the FAA has not been enacted before a fiscal year begins, or (2) a law making continuing appropriations for the FAA is not in effect.Specifically, the bill provides appropriations from the Aviation Insurance Revolving Fund at the rate of operations that was provided for the prior fiscal year to continue programs, projects, and activities that were funded in the preceding fiscal year.&nbsp;The FAA may use the balance of the fund, minus $1 billion.&nbsp;If the FAA&nbsp;determines that the amounts from the fund&nbsp;are insufficient to continue all programs, projects, or&nbsp;activities, then the&nbsp;FAA must prioritize compensation payments for employees of the Air Traffic Organization (e.g., air traffic controllers).The bill provides the appropriations until the date on which either (1) specified appropriations legislation for the fiscal year becomes law, or (2) a bill making continuing appropriations&nbsp;becomes law.Finally, the bill permanently extends the FAA Non-premium War Risk Insurance Program. This program provides aviation insurance without a premium to eligible air carriers at the request of the Department of Defense or another federal agency, provided that the agency agrees to indemnify the FAA from all losses covered under the insurance. Eligible air carriers include those whose operations are under a federal contract and are necessary for national security or to carry out U.S. foreign policy.