Senate votes to end FAA's partial shutdown
Chamber extends funding until Sept. 16, but lawmakers have made little progress on resolving underlying differences.
The Senate on Friday approved legislation ending the two-week partial shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration, which had furloughed 4,000 government workers and another 70,000 construction employees.
The vote does little more than put off the disagreements among lawmakers over the broader reauthorization of the FAA, which has been stalled over labor issues as well as funding levels and subsidies to rural airports.
The funding extends until Sept. 16. Congress will return from its August break after Labor Day.
The deal was approved in the Senate under a procedural move under which all senators agree. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid struck the deal with the administration after the public began questioning why lawmakers were allowing the shutdown to continue while Congress was on break.