House T&I Committee urges Congress to act on FAA bill

Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) wants to put an end to the hijacking of airline construction work. The ranking Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee called on Republicans to accept a “clean” Federal Aviation Administration bill following legislation that would fund the program without cutting grants for rural air service.

“Instead of negotiating at gunpoint and forcing the Senate to adopt its ideological assault on the American worker, House Republican leaders should end their senseless shutdown of the FAA by bringing this clean extension to the floor for a vote today [July 26] while a long-term FAA reauthorization is finalized,” Rahall said in a statement.

Sacrificing rural air service was a sticking point before Rahall’s call to action. Rahall claims the revised measure is backed by every Democrat on the T&I Committee. John Mica (R-Fla.), chairman of the House T&I Committee, still believes the Senate needs to adopt the FAA extension passed by the House on July 20.

Meanwhile, over 4,000 FAA employees have been on furlough since July 22.