The Senate passed a major aviation bill on Thursday, marking an end to a monthslong fight over whether to add more flights to the nation’s busiest runway.

Last month, negotiators in both chambers unveiled a compromise bill that would reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration for another five years, but a provision to add 10 slots at Reagan National Airport prompted outrage from Washington, D.C.-area senators, who warned the flights would cause delays and a risk to public safety.

The four senators, from Maryland and Virginia, held up passage for days, demanding a vote to strip out the slots, but they ultimately relented with the Friday expiration of the law looming.

The measure passed in an 88-4 vote, with Sens. Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Mark Warner (D-VA) opposed.

“After months of painstaking work, the FAA reauthorization has passed in the Senate today,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said ahead of the final vote. “Aviation safety has been front of mind for millions of Americans recently, and passing this FAA bill is the best thing Congress can do to give Americans the peace of mind they deserve.”

The House departed for the week on Wednesday, meaning the soonest it can get through Congress and to President Joe Biden’s desk is Tuesday, but the lower chamber passed a one-week extension to avoid a temporary lapse before it left.

That extension cleared the upper chamber by voice vote less than an hour after the flagship bill.

The fight over DCA slots was not the only holdup on the FAA bill. Negotiators tweaked the legislation at the last minute to resolve a dispute over the Biden administration’s airline refund policy.

Meanwhile, senators saw the reauthorization, one of the final must-pass bills of the current Congress, as a chance to attach unrelated provisions. More than a hundred amendments were filed, but none were ultimately granted a vote.

The Senate operates by unanimous consent, so any one senator could have dragged the process out further. As recently as Thursday afternoon, members from Maryland and Virginia were promising to use every “procedural right” they had to force a vote on the flights.

But they agreed to drop their holds with a simple gesture from Schumer. He brought forward a compromise amendment that would have allowed the flights if the transportation secretary certifies they do not pose a safety hazard.

The amendment was quickly blocked by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), the top Republican on the Commerce Committee, who objected to a vote from the Senate floor.

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The one-week extension faced some controversy of its own. Senators delayed the bill briefly as they worked to get a commitment for future votes on unrelated legislation. Two online safety bills were the subject of negotiations, according to Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the chairwoman of the Commerce Committee, as was an expiring affordable internet program.

“Everybody said, ‘I want my time on the floor!’” she said, noting that a hotline went out to gauge support but that any member could object.

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and there are a number of area events marking the occasion. Check out these festivals, educational talks, performances, and more:

IlluminAsia Festival

To commemorate AAPI Heritage Month, the National Museum of Asian Art is hosting three days of family-friendly arts and culture. This weekend’s IlluminAsia Festival will include an evening of wellness and meditation (guests can journal and make origami), a vendor market, an electronic music performance by artist/activist Madame Gandhi, and Mother’s Day-themed activities for kids (free).

“Good Fortunes” Open House

Asian American artist Xena Ni brings an interactive art installation to Heurich House Museum. “Good Fortunes” is the second installment of the We Should Talk series, which invites community members to join visionary Asian American women in imagining the future. You can explore the exhibit (and the biergarten) at the Dupont museum’s Friday open house. In the coming days, there will also be a charm-making craft event, and a lion dance celebration (free).

Howard County’s AAPI Festival

Sample ice cream, shaved ice, poke, and barbecue from Asian food trucks at this AAPI Festival in Columbia, Maryland. The third annual community gathering spotlights dishes and cultural goods from up to 100 vendors and exhibitors (free).

AAPI Heritage Month Family Day

May Family Day at the Library of Congress commemorates AAPI month with a mask-making workshop for children, and an author talk with Star Trek actor/activist George Takei about his book, My Lost Freedom: A Japanese American World War II Story ( free, but timed-entry pass required).

White House Forum on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders

This daylong event marks the 25th anniversary of the creation of the White House Initiative and the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. The “Lasting Legacies” schedule has yet to be released, but last year’s lineup included performances, panels, speeches, and informational sessions led by Vice President Kamala Harris, actor Daniel Dae Kim, poet Rupi Kaur, and more (free, but registration is required).

Fiesta Asia

The Passport DC festivities continue this month with Fiesta Asia. The celebration of pan-Asian heritage will include over 1,000 performers,  food vendors, and artisans, plus kid-friendly activities, a talent competition, street dancing, and a colorful parade. The fair has been a popular tribute to Asian culture since 2006 (free).

Asian Festival on Main

Take the entire family to this outdoor party in Old Town Fairfax City, which will feature dozens of food options, performances, and vendors, in addition to a cosplay costume contest, and an appearance by the Choy Wun Lion Dance Troupe (free).

Trivia Night: AANHPI Heritage Month

Feeling competitive? Test your knowledge by yourself, or join a team, to answer questions and solve puzzles about Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander athletes, activists, entertainers, and engineers from the Portrait Gallery collections (free).

Asia on the Creek

Visit downtown Frederick to experience traditional Asian art, dance, music, cuisine, and fashion, along with family-friendly activities, a vendor market, and live performances at Carroll Creek Park’s outdoor amphitheater (free).

I had a productive couple of weeks in both the district and Washington. During our District Work Period, I ventured across the district visiting farms and businesses, and out on the water inspecting the dredging project at Harkers Island. Meeting with constituents and community stakeholders who contribute so much to the vibrance of beautiful Eastern North Carolina is such a pleasure.  

In Washington, I introduced two bills critical to improving access to quality healthcare in rural communities. In addition, I had the opportunity to meet with business and public service leaders in our state to discuss how Congress can help them with the challenges they face. As always, it is an honor to be sent to our nation’s capital to be your voice and protect our way of life. 

I will continue fighting for the values of North Carolina’s Third Congressional District. If you wish to stay more engaged and aware of what is happening in Washington and our District please follow me on my socials linked above or here: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. 

Introduced Legislation to Permanently Expand Access to Telehealth Services for Rural America

After practicing medicine in rural eastern North Carolina for the last 25 years, I know that many patients have to travel hours to access healthcare. They face significant burdens in cost as well as time away from work. Telehealth services are critical for these rural communities who live far from clinics and hospitals.

We saw how beneficial this valuable service was for folks during the pandemic and it should continue to be available for all Americans. I’m proud to spearhead this effort and am committed to advocating for this commonsense policy alongside my colleagues.

Read more here. 

Introduced Legislation to Preserve New Graduate Medical Education Slots for Rural Communities

Decades of real-world data show rural trained physicians are more likely to practice in rural communities. To grow the physician workforce and increase access to care for patients throughout the nation, we must prioritize the areas of need that are experiencing the most acute physician workforce shortages. Rural hospitals are struggling to recruit physicians with increasing difficulty, in part because of an imbalance in the apportionment of graduate medical education slots.

Healthcare access continues to decline in rural America, and we must act swiftly to reverse this dangerous trend. Failure to do so will lead to more hospital and physician practice closures, greater instability in the supply of new physicians, and further burden patients already forced to travel long distances for care.

Read more here.

Meeting with NC Fire Service

It was great to meet with folks from the NC Fire Service. I am committed to ensuring our fire departments have the necessary resources to do their critical jobs while staying safe.

Thank you for your swift response to protect our communities.

Meeting with Leaders of PNC

I had the pleasure of meeting with leaders of North Carolina’s PNC banks to discuss their role as a regional bank and efforts to support the growth of our communities.

Thank you for promoting economic development that supports businesses and individuals across Eastern North Carolina.