Obama Presses Congress to Pass FAA Bill

Congress passed a short-term extension on Aug. 4 that allows the agency to continue operating through Sept. 16. The FAA has relied on 21 short-term authorizations since 2007. The latest bill was held up over union organizing rules and funding for rural airports.

Obama urged Congress to pass a “clean extension” for FAA funding that would leave out those issues.

“This should not be a Democratic issue or a Republican issue,” he said.

Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said in a statement that Republicans are committed to working with the president and Democrats to pass an FAA funding bill.

Obama said the legislation should also address back pay for the 4,000 federal employees who were furloughed from July 23 to Aug. 4 after Congress allowed FAA funding to lapse, causing the partial shutdown of the agency.