House Democrats getting ready to attempt to restore FAA funding
July 27, 2011, 03:20 pm
House Democrats are planning on introducing a bill to restore funding for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to bring the continuous congressional stalemate to resolution.
Since Congress failed to come to an agreement on funding on Friday, roughly 4,000 FAA employees have been furloughed and the administration has lost an estimated $30 million per day from lost ticket-taxes.
The House Transportation Committee consists of 59 representatives, 33 of whom are Republican. The 26 Democrats will need to find some support in the GOP. Ranking committee member, Democratic Senator Nick J. Rahall II of West Virginia, spoke on the ongoing impasse.
"Instead of negotiating at gunpoint and forcing the Senate to adopt its ideological assault on the American worker," Rahall said, "House Republican leaders should end their senseless shutdown of the FAA by bringing this clean extension to the floor for a vote today while a long-term FAA reauthorization is finalized."
Some of the unresolved issues include arguments over funding levels and longevity, a contentious labor provision and subsidized commercial air flights to airports in rural areas of the country.
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