Transportation Secretary LaHood Does Not Need An Act Of Congress For Reimbursements

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood does not require Congressional authorization to supply back pay to FAA employees who were furloughed during this summer's temporary shutdown of the agency, according to the Congressman who introduced legislation for that purpose.

A bill had been introduced by New Jersey Republican Frank LoBiondo (pictured)  to pay FAA employees for their involuntary time off. In a news release Friday, he said that he had been informed by Transportation Secretary LaHood that Department of Transportation lawyers had determined additional Congressional action was not needed to process back pay for the two week partial shutdown that affected nearly 4,000 FAA employees nationwide. Through administrative action, the back pay will be included in a mid-October paycheck.

“After weeks of exploring all legislative options available and repeated conversations with the Secretary, today’s news is certainly welcome and ensures the affected FAA employees receive the respect and thanks they deserve,” LoBiondo said in the news release. “A preventable failure of Congress resulting in significant hardship for thousands of FAA employees has finally been made right. I appreciate Secretary LaHood’s commitment to ensure the furloughed FAA employees ... were not held at fault for Washington’s dysfunction.”

“The livelihood of New Jersey workers and their families is my top concern and I’m pleased that these paychecks will be going out," said New Jersey Democratic Senator Frank Launtenberg in a separate news release. "At a time when Americans are struggling to find jobs and keep food on the table, we must put politics aside and find solutions to the problems facing our country.” Lautenberg's more partisan statement blamed House Republicans for the agency's shutdown.

A report in The Hill indicates that the partial shutdown in the FAA in August cost the government an estimated $30 million per day in lost sales taxes on airline tickes. Along with the 4,000 civil servants, it idled some 70,000 people working on construction projects at airports across the country.

FMI: www.dot.gov