FAA's federal funding temporarily restored
August 6, 2011, 11:28 am
On Friday morning, the two-week partial shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) finally came to a close as President Obama signed a temporary funding extension for the federal organization. Most of the members of Congress weren't in attendance as many had already left the capital for recess, and the bill was passed by unanimous consent.
The temporary extension lasts until September 16, and will put approximately 4,000 furloughed FAA employees back to work. An additional 70,000 construction workers will also be put back to work on numerous airport projects that had been stalled due to the FAA's lack of funding.
"This impasse was an unnecessary strain on local economies across the country at a time when we can't allow politics to get in the way of our economic recovery," Obama said. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood stated that he would work with lawmakers toward providing back pay for FAA workers who had been furloughed.
"I'm thrilled for our dedicated FAA employees who will be able to go back to work on Monday," LaHood wrote on his blog.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association reports that in 2009, there were 19,750 total landing facilities across the United States. Many of these locations will now benefit from previously stalled improvement projects, which could lead to fewer pilot life insurance claims.
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