The dust is starting to settle from last week’s midterm elections and a clearer picture of the leaders and priories of the 116^thCongress is starting to emerge. One Senate race, between incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and outgoing Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R), remains uncalled. In addition, U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS)—also backed by AgAv PAC—will be in a runoff election next month with Former Secretary of Agricutlure under the Clinton Administration, Mike Espy. Nine house races still remain too close to call. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA) has been defeated by his Democratic challenger Josh Harder. His loss all but assures general aviation pilot and AgAv PAC backed Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) will be ranking member on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The committee chair is expected to be Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR).  

Infrastructure on the Agenda 

Both Republicans and Democrats are looking at making infrastructure a top priority when the new congress is sworn in this January. Rep. DeFazio has said infrastructure will be a priority and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), who is expected to chair the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee said he "would love to sink my teeth into an infrastructure package.” 

Though both sides are sure to have disagreements, including how such a bill will be financed and whether to include funding for a boarder wall. Rep. DeFazio has already said a wall is a non-starter: "I have no interest in wading into that issue. Infrastructure should stand alone. It doesn't need to be traded for anything… I'm not getting into the border wall, that's not going to be a tradeoff.” 

Regarding funding for such a package, NAAA will work closely with members of Congress to strengthen tower marking rules, protect general aviation from costly user fees and preserve the ag aviation industry’s fuel tax exemption.

Farm Bill Progress 

There are just 17 legislative days before the end of the year, but House Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX) and ranking member Collin Peterson (D-MN) are working to come up with a Farm Bill that can quickly pass in both the House and Senate. The leaders met for 30-minutes this past Monday with more meetings expected throughout the week. 

NAAA will continue to advocate for a speedy vote on the 2018 Farm Bill that includes vital regulatory relief reforms, including a fix for the duplicative National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit by eliminating its requirements for pesticides registered and already tested for water safety under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).