Bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives to protect the U.S. National Airspace System and its workforce from disruptions caused by government shutdowns. The bill, called the Aviation Funding Solvency Act, was brought forward by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX), and Representative Andre Carson (D-IN).
The proposed law aims to ensure that air traffic controllers and other Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) professionals continue to receive pay during any lapse in federal funding. It would allow the FAA to access the Aviation Insurance Revolving Fund during a shutdown to maintain critical services necessary for aviation safety.
The Aviation Insurance Revolving Fund was originally established with airline war risk insurance premiums but has not been used since 2014, when that program ended. Interest accumulation has increased its balance to over $2.6 billion, which is more than what has been needed for claims related to the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program.
Chairman Graves stated, “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. 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.”
Ranking Member Larsen said, “Thank you to our invaluable aviation safety workforce, who, during the longest shutdown in history, did not waver in their duties to keep the flying public safe – despite not knowing when their next paycheck would come. These hardworking women and men should never have to sacrifice pay – making an already difficult job even more stressful. Our bipartisan bill ensures air traffic controllers and other aviation safety personnel will continue to get paid during future shutdowns and allows the FAA to operate uninterrupted so the agency can focus on its critical airspace safety mission.”
Nehls added: “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing legislation that ensures the professionals responsible for ensuring the safety and efficiency of our airspace are guaranteed pay through a federal government shutdown. Shutdowns shouldn’t put the safety of our national airspace and the flying public at risk. To avoid unnecessary pressure and strain on our aviation system, we must ensure those who are responsible for the operation of our airspace aren’t financially affected in the event of a future federal government shutdown.”
Carson commented: “A government shutdown should never affect our air travel the way it did earlier this month. Air traffic controllers already have one of the most stressful jobs in the country, and they deserve to be paid regardless of what’s happening in Washington. Our new, bipartisan bill will ensure FAA employees are paid and travelers don’t have to experience unnecessary interruptions.”
