House Democrats propose clean extension of FAA funding

Democratic lawmakers are calling for an urgent vote on a clean extension of Federal Aviation Administration funding in hopes of bringing 4,000 furloughed employees back to work.

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee members, supported by other party members, on Tuesday introduced legislation that would extend FAA funding through the end of fiscal 2011, without any newly added provisions. A short-term authorization would allow the agency to operate while lawmakers negotiate a long-term bill, they said.

Congressional authorization for some FAA programs lapsed Friday night after lawmakers failed to pass the 21st funding extension since the agency's authorization expired in 2007. Until Congress acts, FAA will be unable to collect federal taxes on airline tickets, which supply the trust fund used to pay employees.

The House and Senate are at odds over a labor provision in the House version that would overturn a National Mediation Board decision, making it easier for rail and aviation workers to unionize. In addition, the House bill, introduced by John Mica, R-Fla., eliminates subsidies for airline service to airports located less than 90 miles from a medium or large hub, which has upset some lawmakers from rural areas.

Lawmakers on Friday began pointing fingers over who is responsible for failing to reauthorize funding for FAA over the long term, and it remains unclear how long the shutdown will last.

"The House Republicans have recklessly blown up FAA reauthorization negotiations, while needlessly putting Americans out of work," said Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va. "They have not appointed conferees, they have not done the basic work to resolve the current impasse, and they seem to have no real plan to resolve it going forward other than continuing to inflict pain on working families until they get their way."

FAA is funded both by the Airport and Airways Trust Fund and the Treasury Department. Operations functions, such as air traffic control, are covered by both accounts and will continue despite the shutdown. According to the agency, functions funded solely by trust fund dollars have ceased, and the 4,000 employees paid out of the account, including engineers, safety inspectors and support personnel, have been furloughed.

Leaders of three major unions representing furloughed workers on Monday sent letters to House and Senate lawmakers asking them to pass a clean extension followed by a multiyear reauthorization. Affected employees are critical to aviation safety and efficiency, they wrote.