Representatives for 40 aviation trade associations have signed a letter calling on Congress to pass a bill letting the Federal Aviation Administration receive funding during any future government shutdowns, The Hill reports.
The groups wrote to leading members of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to inform them of their "strong support" for the Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2019. The bill would allow the FAA to take money from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund in the event of a lapse in funding, so as to avoid furloughing employees or making them work without pay as they did during the recent partial government shutdown.
"Jobs and economic growth in the industry were threatened as manufacturers, airlines, and other operators, and small businesses faced disruption," they wrote. "The effect on the nation's air transportation system and the workers charged with keeping the system safe was dramatic.
"We find this situation to be unacceptable and we want to work with Congress and the Administration to prevent this from ever happening again. The legislation is designed to provide a limited, targeted way of ensuring stability for the aviation system and it does not change congressional direction or oversight in any way."
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