Senate reaches breakthrough on FAA extension; tens of thousands of workers can go back to their jobs

I am thrilled this morning that the Senate has approved an FAA bill.  It is a tremendous victory for American workers everywhere.

I'm thrilled for our dedicated FAA employees who will be able to go back to work on Monday.  And I'm thrilled for the tens of thousands of hardworking workers who can go back to airport construction sites around the country.

As a matter of fairness, we will also do everything we can to get Congress to provide our furloughed employees with the back pay they deserve. 

  

This was really no time to stop work on so many critical airport improvement projects--right in the middle of the construction season.  But now, these good workers can get back on the job Monday doing the work they want to do, earning a good wage, and taking care of their families.  And I am very, very happy for them.

I want to thank President Obama for his attention to this situation.  Even during the days of intense debt and deficit discussions, he insisted to me, "Take care of our employees.  Take care of the construction workers.  Figure this out.  Get it done."

So that's what we did.  We worked with Congress day and night to figure out a way to get these people back on the job.  And, thanks to the leadership of Senators Reid, Rockefeller, Hutchison and Baucus, we got it done.

Now, before we get too carried away, let's remember that this extension only lasts until September 16; there's still work to do so we can get a long term FAA bill.

But I'm optimistic that, with so many jobs on the line in these tough economic times, Congress can work out its differences.  President Obama really put his finger on it when he said, "We can't afford to let politics in Washington hamper our recovery."

 

From construction workers to our dedicated FAA employees, they will all have the security of knowing they are going to go back to work and will get a paycheck--and that's what we've been fighting for.

We have the best aviation system in the world, and we intend to keep it that way.

Comments

[Dr. Anne Harlan]

Thank you so much, Secretry LaHood. Without your excellent leadership, I'm not sure this would ever have happened. I'm also extremely grateful to my own representative, Congressman Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), for his tremendous leadership as well. Both of you kept the focus on the excellent job done by FAA men and women and the outrage all of us felt over Congress's decision to continue with their vacation without resolving this issue. As the retired Director of the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center in Atlantic City, I can truly say we all applaud you and your work.

[Menachem Lifshitz]

This is good news. Thanks to the people who push and made efforts.

[Betty Barna]

I am in awe at your positive attitude towards The President and Harry Reid. As a transplanted Texan, I seldom hear anything but rancor and distain for those of us who are more liberal in nature, so much so, that we are considered as less than human. This attitude is splitting this country and will ultimately bring it down. All great civilizations have fallen, and hubris is the reason. The idea that one party has all of the right answers and the other is worse than an enemy is going to be our downfall. I feel that we are at the beginning of the end, unless Americans can see their own failings, accept that we are a nation of many cultures and that is a good thing, and work together towards honest and true answers for all, not just the rich and powerful. Without the working class we will not survive. The truth has become unimportant. The "Greatest Generation" would be ashamed
at what we have become. They sacrificed to give us everything and we are squandering that heritage. Please continue to reach out to all of us for we are not the enemy. We
are all Americans. Thank you for your honesty and your work for our workers.

[gringo guide]

Very glad to hear this. Thank you Secretary LaHood for taking a strong stand on this from the outset. No doubt it played a part in this positive development.

[David]

Well, I'm glad to see the FAA got their act together. I simply don't understand why our government officials can't come together without the bitter infighting as we saw with the debt ceiling.

[Scott Weinberg]

I'm glad to hear all FAA workers who put back on the job. I'm surely they will be very successful for hard work. Let's keep stay postive. Don't let make another mistakes again in the future. FAA is responsibilities for aviation safety. They can ensure FAA employees will have enough salary and they will have request a time off from work. Good luck for your future.