FAA Shutdown Averted
Monday, September 19, 2011(DC Labor)
.gif)
As
the clock ticked toward a Friday midnight
deadline, the Senate passed the FAA
authorization
(HR 2887) which extended FAA programs for four
months by a vote of 92 to
6. In recent days Senator Tom
Coburn (R, OK) had placed a hold on the
bill but after much pressure Senator Coburn
relented and the vote was allowed
to proceed. Senator Rand Paul (R, KY) offered
an amendment to reduce FAA
funding to 2008 levels, but Senators
Rockefeller (D, WV), Hutchinson (R, TX)and
Boxer (D, CA) spoke against it and the
amendment failed by a vote of 61-36.
"Special thanks to the lobbyists from AFSCME,
NATCA and PASS who helped to
achieve this victory," said AFSCME Council 26's
Carl Goldman. "We
still have to work to ensure that legislation
is passed that gives back pay to
all FAA employees who were furloughed this
summer."