Congresswoman Waters Expresses Relief Upon Learning of FAA Deal
August 10, 2011
Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) announced she was pleased to learn that House and Senate leaders reached a deal to end the partial shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The deal was announced this afternoon by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
"I urged House and Senate leaders to end the shutdown of the FAA, and I was pleased to learn that they have done so," said Congresswoman Waters. "Now, 74,000 transportation and construction workers can finally go back to work,"
The FAA was forced to shut down many of its operations on July 23rd because Congress failed to pass a bill to extend its funding authorization. Consequently, 4,000 FAA employees were placed on furlough, and an additional 70,000 construction workers were left without work. Congresswoman Waters wrote to House and Senate leaders urging them to immediately reconvene the House and Senate if necessary to end the shutdown.
"It was outrageous that these workers were forced to live without pay and were unable to do their jobs developing our air travel infrastructure and serving the flying public," said Congresswoman Waters. "With the unemployment rate above nine percent, no workers should be without jobs when there is work for them to do."
The shutdown suspended work on numerous airport modernization projects, included a project to design and install new runway status lights at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), the world's sixth busiest airport, which is located in the Congresswoman's District.
"I am especially pleased that work on the design and installation of runway status lights at LAX will resume," said the Congresswoman. "These lights will improve visibility for pilots and help them see when it is safe to enter, cross or take off on a runway."
"I know there are still issues that need to be resolved before Congress can pass a long-term FAA reauthorization bill, but I hope my colleagues in Congress will allow the dedicated workers of the FAA to continue to serve the American people while these issues are being resolved," said Congresswoman Waters.
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"I urged House and Senate leaders to end the shutdown of the FAA, and I was pleased to learn that they have done so," said Congresswoman Waters. "Now, 74,000 transportation and construction workers can finally go back to work,"
The FAA was forced to shut down many of its operations on July 23rd because Congress failed to pass a bill to extend its funding authorization. Consequently, 4,000 FAA employees were placed on furlough, and an additional 70,000 construction workers were left without work. Congresswoman Waters wrote to House and Senate leaders urging them to immediately reconvene the House and Senate if necessary to end the shutdown.
"It was outrageous that these workers were forced to live without pay and were unable to do their jobs developing our air travel infrastructure and serving the flying public," said Congresswoman Waters. "With the unemployment rate above nine percent, no workers should be without jobs when there is work for them to do."
The shutdown suspended work on numerous airport modernization projects, included a project to design and install new runway status lights at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), the world's sixth busiest airport, which is located in the Congresswoman's District.
"I am especially pleased that work on the design and installation of runway status lights at LAX will resume," said the Congresswoman. "These lights will improve visibility for pilots and help them see when it is safe to enter, cross or take off on a runway."
"I know there are still issues that need to be resolved before Congress can pass a long-term FAA reauthorization bill, but I hope my colleagues in Congress will allow the dedicated workers of the FAA to continue to serve the American people while these issues are being resolved," said Congresswoman Waters.
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Issues:
43rd District