`We Did It! Back on Track!'
Furloughed FAA employees return, progress resumes
Thanks to elected officials both locally and throughout the country, including our own Rep. Steve Israel (NY-2), the Senate approved the FAA funding allowing furloughed Federal Aviation Administration workers to return to the job. Last Thursday, Congressman Israel, Rep. Tim Bishop (NY-1), Islip Town Supervisor Phil Nolan and Long Island MacArthur Airport Commissioner Teresa Rizzuto called for the end of the FAA shutdown and discussed the impact the shutdown was having locally.
“Once again House Republicans have gone too far. Now, they’ve grounded the FAA and left more than 90,000 workers stranded on the tarmac. It’s time for Congress to go back to work and put people back to work,” said Rep. Israel. “It’s absurd that we just spent weeks negotiating over how to reduce our debt and now House Republicans are going to let us lose $1 billion in tax revenue and keep 90,000 workers from gainful employment. I urge them to come to their senses and pass a straightforward FAA reauthorization.”
"It is unconscionable that House members left town without taking a simple vote that would put thousands of Americans back to work,” Bishop said. “Instead of standing outside MacArthur urging my colleagues to do the right thing, I’d much rather be boarding a flight to resolve this unnecessary standoff.”
The FAA capital program has been shutdown since July 23, resulting in a furlough of nearly 4,000 employees as well as an estimated 87,000 construction jobs because of stop-work orders on capital projects. New York State is losing $62,600,000 in airport construction funding, 2,177 airport construction jobs and 127 FAA jobs. Several of the affected projects directly impact MacArthur Airport.
Supervisor Nolan said, “More than $1.3 million in FAA-funded projects, representing more than 130 potential jobs, are on hold at MacArthur Airport and our historic airfield, the Bayport Aerodrome. Not only are these projects important to the continued improvement of these transportation facilities, but they represent economic activity that is vital to the region. We appreciate the support of Congressmen Israel and Bishop in advocating for the authorization of these funds.”
“It’s unconscionable that Congress would even consider adjourning without resolving an issue that impacts aviation across the nation. It’s unacceptable. Furthermore, the furlough of 4,000 FAA employees who have helped keep America flying is a travesty,” added Commissioner Rizzuto.
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