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.

FMI: www.aea.aero