Lawmakers on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the House of Representatives have introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure that, during any future government shutdowns, air traffic controllers will continue to get paid.
Introduced by Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX), and Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN), the Aviation Funding Solvency Act also will ensure that other FAA professionals responsible for managing the National Airspace System will continue to get paid.
The bill also will allow the FAA to access the Aviation Insurance Revolving Fund during a government shutdown.
The Aviation Insurance Revolving Fund covers war risk insurance claims by airlines when they are activated under the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) program. The fund’s balance was originally funded by airline war risk insurance premiums, but that program was terminated in 2014. Despite being largely unused, interest accumulation has increased the balance of the fund to more than $2.6 billion, which is significantly more than the fund has needed to cover CRAF claims, lawmakers noted.
“I am grateful for our federal employees, especially our air traffic controllers, who showed up day-in and day-out throughout the shutdown to do their jobs, without pay, to ensure the safety of our aviation system and the nation,” Graves said. “But we all saw that the system can be vulnerable when Congress can’t get its job done. This bill guarantees that controllers, who have one of the most high-pressure jobs in the nation, will get paid during any future funding lapses and that air traffic control, aviation safety, and the traveling public will never again be negatively impacted by shutdowns.”
Click here to read the bill.
Good. Now add a provision that Senators and Representatives will not get paid during a shutdown.
Indeed. Second that motion
I third, fourth, and fifth it as well. I’m also wondering what kind of pork is being slipped into this bill, and what will happen the funds they’re making available if congress finagles a way to get their hands on it. Sure it’s INTENDED to pay FAA employees during a shutdown…assuming the money doesn’t get “redistributed.”