The wing commander temporarily suspended flying operations as a precautionary measure, before officials nationwide followed suit.
Opponents are now staging a battle against a similar measure before the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
"We always have to go measure before we start anything," Mr. Mensching said.
The House passed its version of the measure before leaving for Memorial Day.
Last year, Mr. DeLay killed the measure before it could be voted on in the House.
He led by 0.8 percentage points by the same measure before the debate.
Mr. Thompson has insisted that the Senate vote on his measure before taking up the China trade bill.
Senator Thompson said today he would insist on a vote on his measure before the Senate considers the trade bill.
The full Senate and the Assembly must approve the measure before it is sent to Mrs. Whitman.
With a 15 July deadline to pass a measure before Congress's vacation, public health officials are increasingly alarmed.
Senate Democrats have requested at least 24 hours to review the measure before a final meeting of the conference committee.
