Fri, Sep 02, 2011
AEA Echoes President Obama’s Message to Congress
President Barack Obama on Thursday called on Congress to pass a
bill extending the FAAs spending authority prior to the
agency’s current authority expires on Sept. 16. The FAA was
partially shut down for two weeks earlier this summer because
lawmakers did not agree to another short-term funding extension
until Aug. 5.
"(W)hen they come back next month, not only do they need to pass
the transportation bill but they've also got to pass a clean
extension of that FAA bill -- for longer this time -- and address
back pay for the workers who were laid off during the last
shutdown," President Obama said in a Rose Garden speech
Wednesday.
"At a time when a lot of people in Washington are talking about
creating jobs, it’s time to stop the political gamesmanship
that can actually cost us hundreds of thousands of jobs. This
should not be a Democratic issue or a Republican issue. This
transportation bill has been renewed seven times in the last two
years alone. That’s why my Secretary of Transportation, Ray
LaHood -- a Republican -- is with me today, along with David
Chavern from the Chamber of Commerce, and Rich Trumka of the
AFL-CIO -- two organizations who don’t always see eye-to-eye
on things -- because they agree on how important it is for our
economy that Congress act now.
"So I’m calling on Congress, as soon as they come back, to
pass a clean extension of the surface transportation bill, along
with a clean extension of the FAA bill, to give workers and
communities across America the confidence that vital construction
projects won’t come to a halt," the President said.
“Although President Obama has recently made critical
remarks toward the business and general aviation industry, the
Aircraft Electronics Association is pleased to hear the president
urge Congressional leaders to pass a permanent piece of
legislation,” AEA President Paula Derks said. “The FAA
is currently operating on a series of 21 short-term continuing
resolutions since 2007, and it is time to put partisan politics
aside and approve a long-term piece of legislation. Without it, the
FAA’s ability to strategically commit to the infrastructure
improvements necessary to fully implement NextGen is in
jeopardy.”
During the partial FAA shut down in late July and early August,
nearly 4,000 employees were furloughed and more than 200 stop-work
orders were issued for airport construction and other projects.
The AEA encourages its members to contact members of Congress
and urge them to pass an FAA bill immediately.
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