Bill to avert FAA shutdown passes in House
WASHINGTON - The House yesterday approved a stopgap bill intended to avoid a shutdown of federal highway and aviation programs, with Senate action expected later this week.
The bill, passed by a voice vote, temporarily extends operating authority for the Federal Aviation Administration through the end of January and federal highway and transit programs through the end of March.
Senate and House leaders reached an agreement last week to temporarily extend both programs, signaling they had no appetite for the kind of partisan standoff that forced the FAA to partially shut down for two weeks earlier this summer.
Nearly 4,000 FAA workers were furloughed and more than 200 airport construction and safety projects halted, affecting tens of thousands of other workers.
The government lost nearly $400 million in uncollected airline ticket taxes as a result.
Without congressional action, the FAA could face another partial shutdown on Friday.
