Airport Alert: Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Protect Aviation Workers and Programs During Government Shutdowns
June 22, 2021
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and a bipartisan group of House lawmakers today introduced a bill to protect aviation workers and programs during any future government shutdowns. The bill comes as lawmakers are gearing up to begin considering what will likely be a difficult and messy Fiscal Year 2022 budget process.
The Aviation Funding Stability Act would allow the FAA to tap into the uncommitted balance of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund (AATF) to continue paying air traffic controllers and other FAA employees during a government shutdown. Aviation Subcommittee Chair Rick Larsen (D-WA) along with Reps. Bob Gibbs (R-OH) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) joined DeFazio in introducing the bill.
"We can't allow for everything to be thrown into chaos in the event of a federal government shutdown," DeFazio said in a joint press release. "Our bipartisan bill will ensure that the FAA can keep operating without interruption, which is essential to protecting public safety and the livelihoods of aviation workers who keep our country and economy moving."
DeFazio and Larsen introduced a similar bill in February 2019 after a 35-day partial government shutdown caused the FAA to furlough more than 17,000 employees. It attracted more than 300 cosponsors. Unlike the previous version of the bill, which allowed for drawing from the Trust Fund for the duration of any shutdown, the new measure would allow the FAA to draw from the AATF during a funding lapse for up to 30 days.
"Enabling the FAA to draw from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund during a funding lapse ensures essential personnel who work under stressful situations continue to get paid, and the largest, busiest and most complex airspace system in the world remains safe and functional for air passengers and crew," Larsen said.
AAAE and a long list of aviation stakeholders have voiced their support for the bipartisan bill.
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and a bipartisan group of House lawmakers today introduced a bill to protect aviation workers and programs during any future government shutdowns. The bill comes as lawmakers are gearing up to begin considering what will likely be a difficult and messy Fiscal Year 2022 budget process.
The Aviation Funding Stability Act would allow the FAA to tap into the uncommitted balance of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund (AATF) to continue paying air traffic controllers and other FAA employees during a government shutdown. Aviation Subcommittee Chair Rick Larsen (D-WA) along with Reps. Bob Gibbs (R-OH) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) joined DeFazio in introducing the bill.
"We can't allow for everything to be thrown into chaos in the event of a federal government shutdown," DeFazio said in a joint press release. "Our bipartisan bill will ensure that the FAA can keep operating without interruption, which is essential to protecting public safety and the livelihoods of aviation workers who keep our country and economy moving."
DeFazio and Larsen introduced a similar bill in February 2019 after a 35-day partial government shutdown caused the FAA to furlough more than 17,000 employees. It attracted more than 300 cosponsors. Unlike the previous version of the bill, which allowed for drawing from the Trust Fund for the duration of any shutdown, the new measure would allow the FAA to draw from the AATF during a funding lapse for up to 30 days.
"Enabling the FAA to draw from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund during a funding lapse ensures essential personnel who work under stressful situations continue to get paid, and the largest, busiest and most complex airspace system in the world remains safe and functional for air passengers and crew," Larsen said.
AAAE and a long list of aviation stakeholders have voiced their support for the bipartisan bill.
