Industry Leaders Urge Long-term FAA Funding

Safety and jobs are on the line. That was the consensus at a news conference Wednesday at Reagan National Airport just outside Washington.

Representatives speaking on behalf of airline pilots, flight attendants and air traffic controllers called on Congress to pass a long-term FAA reauthorization bill, not another extension.

"The clock is ticking," said Veda Shook, president of the Association of Flight Attendants. "Congress is jeopardizing the safety of the U.S. air transportation system and risking thousands of airline employee jobs by failing to pass a long-term FAA reauthorization bill."

Roughly 4,000 federal employees were furloughed for a short time this summer when Congress couldn't agree on an extension of funding for the Federal Aviation Administration. An agreement was reached on a 21st extension of funds, but members of the aviation industry say a long-term bill is vital.

"It's time to get serious, and it's time to put the safety of American aviation ahead of partisan politics," said Capt. Lee Moak, president of the Air Line Pilots Association. "To have 21 extensions of an FAA reauthorization bill really illustrates an unwillingness to reach a consensus and I believe a fundamental lack of leadership."

Advocates of long-term funding say that more permanent legislation will enhance safety in the air and on the ground by allowing for the creation and completion of several projects designed for improving and modernizing the U.S. aviation structure. Officials say the benefits are two-fold: a better aviation system and a stronger American work force.

"Given the current unemployment numbers, FAA reauthorization is essential to allowing our aviation system to grow safely and potentially add thousands of new jobs while securing the tens of thousands of current jobs in the airline sector," Shook said.

Aviation officials say the failure to reach an agreement on long-term funding in effect keeps the entire aviation industry in limbo and affects the public.

"To do anything less (than funding long-term) at this moment jeopardizes safety and has a direct impact on the viability of the entire industry," Moak said. "We cannot continue to function with this Band-Aid approach."

The current FAA reauthorization extension expires September 16.