Sat, Aug 06, 2011
All Acknowledge That Heavy Lifting Remains To Be Done
Reaction continues to come in following Friday's unanimous
consent approval in the Senate of the House-passed FAA continuing
resolution to extend FAA funding at 2007 levels for a 21st
consecutive time.
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen issued a statement Friday
regarding action by Congress and the Obama administration to
approve the bill. "NBAA and the business aviation community welcome
the action by Congress and the President to finalize an extension
of funding for the FAA," Bolen said in the statement. "Although we
have long said that a multi-year FAA reauthorization bill is the
best way to provide the guidance needed for long-term initiatives
including implementation of a Next Generation Air Traffic System,
we also know that passage of a short-term extension of existing
funding levels puts all FAA employees back to work on existing
priorities, including many important airport maintenance and
construction projects around the country."
Tom Brantley, national president of the Professional Aviation
Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO (PASS), which represents over 11,000
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees, sounded similar
themes. “PASS is relieved that a bipartisan compromise has
been reached that allows 4,000 FAA employees and over 70,000
construction workers to return to their jobs and important work on
aviation modernization projects and initiatives to resume," he
said. "It is completely unfair that FAA employees had to suffer due
to partisan politics unrelated to funding of the agency. The
uncertainty faced by furloughed employees during this time is
something I hope is never revisited.
“PASS thanks the Senate today for their efforts to ensure
that this standoff did not continue through the remainder of the
summer. PASS also wants to thank the administration, in particular
Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and FAA
Administrator Randy Babbitt for their dedication to calling
attention to the impact of the standoff and the importance of
passing this extension.
“FAA employees represented by PASS and other labor
organizations play a pivotal role in ensuring the safety and
efficiency of this country’s aviation system. I am thankful
that this impasse has been resolved, and I am hopeful that there
will not be a repeat of this situation when the extension expires
in September. PASS encourages members of Congress to work to pass
comprehensive FAA reauthorization that meets everyone’s
needs. This legislation is important not only to FAA employees and
the safe modernization of the National Airspace System, but to the
thousands of Americans who rely on that system every
day.”
Congress is now on a 5 week summer recess. Members will get back
to the long-term funding measure after Labor Day.
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