As the Senate debates a Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization this week, a favorite cause will be on the agenda: allowing more long-distance flights to begin and end at some senators' favorite airport.

Some lawmakers, mostly from the West, want more direct flights between their states and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, located in Virginia just over 4 miles from the Capitol. Many members of Congress like to get into and out of Washington as quickly as possible so that they can spend three days or more each week back home.

But members of Congress representing Virginia and Maryland want to insulate constituents near the airport and along its flight paths from added noise and traffic and want to preserve flights at other nearby airports.

Current law restricts the number of flights into and out of Reagan National, with 24 each day permitted to go beyond a 1,250-mile perimeter. Dulles International Airport, about 26 miles from Washington in Virginia, handles international flights and more long-distance routes.

The number of long-distance "slots" at Reagan National has been hotly debated -- and ultimately increased -- in each of the past two FAA reauthorizations. This year, no fewer than four proposed Senate amendments to the FAA bill (HR 1586) would add long-distance slots.

Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., has offered an amendment that would let the Transportation Department transfer unused off-peak slots to new entrants or limited-service airlines for use during peak hours. That could give JetBlue a toe in the door at an airport it does not now serve.