washington u.s. congress divide whether privatize nation air traffic control system chamber advance bill expand airline passenger protections thursday senate commerce science transportation committee adopt legislation include federal aviation administration reform unlike house panel spin air traffic control leave faa support say senator bill nelson top democrat panel u.s. house transportation infrastructure committee approve privatization plan tuesday put air traffic control oversight nonprofit corporation president donald trump say move would modernize air traffic control low fly cost proposal draw fire private plane owners rural airports critics say would hand control key asset special interest big airlines american airlines group inc unite airlines southwest airlines co jetblue airways corp back proposal congress sept. 30 reauthorize faa republican senator john thune chairman committee say senate may take proposal august recess potentially leave little time come compromise measure senate bill would require new rule prohibit cancellation baggage seat selection day change fee reasonable proportional airlines america airline trade group say would result government-mandated price control reject 2016 u.s. airlines collect 7.1 billion baggage reservation change fee measure would make illegal airline bump already board passenger flight april unite passenger forcibly remove seat prompt public outrage airline since ban practice senate bill also require new rule would mandate airlines promptly refund passengers baggage fee fee receive service house bill would require faa set minimum seat size u.s. airlines minimum distance row protect safety health airline passengers average distance row seat drop 35 inch 1970s 31 inch today supporters say average width airline seat shrink 18 inch 16-1/2 inch one contentious issue train requirements pilot whether certain simulate train hours count thune say two-thirds u.s. airports serve regional carriers crisis try attract pilot democrats say revise rule could lead unqualified pilot bill would seek speed approval commercial drone use test study privacy implications measure also require medium- large-sized airports provide clean private room terminals nurse mother would enshrine ban make in-flight mobile phone call law senate bill would direct study airplane air quality require study whether airlines shrink airplane bathrooms add seat congress split privatize air traffic control