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.

FMI: www.nbaa.org, www.passnational.org