FAA Shutdown

Floor Speech

* Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, today millions of Americans are waiting to see if the Republicans will stop holding the economy hostage and allow our nation to pay its bills, honor its commitments to senior citizens and veterans, and keep government workers at their jobs. But 4,000 government workers already have been laid off because of Republican intransigence.

* The Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, was forced to shut down many of its operations last Saturday, because the House of Representatives refused to pass a simple bill to extend its funding authorization. As a result, 4,000 FAA employees in 35 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico were placed on furlough. Those affected include many of the FAA's engineers, scientists, research analysts, administrative assistants, computer specialists, program managers, environmental protection specialists, and community planners. These government workers are being forced to live without pay and are unable to do their jobs developing our air travel infrastructure and serving the flying public.

* The FAA has assured the American people that air traffic controllers will remain on the job, and the safety of the flying public will not be compromised. However, numerous FAA projects and services have been affected.

* Earlier this week, the FAA AN as forced to issue stop work orders to construction and technology contractors for critical airport modernization projects. As a result, dozens of construction projects to build and modernize air traffic control towers and other aviation infrastructure were immediately halted. This work stoppage risks putting numerous construction workers and other private sector employees out of work as well.

* In my home state of California, the FAA shutdown has delayed $131.5 million in funding for projects and furloughed 203 FAA employees in the Los Angeles area alone. But the actual impact on the Los Angeles area is far greater. Los Angeles International Airport, LAX--which is located in my Congressional District--is the world's sixth busiest airport. LAX creates an estimated 59,000 jobs in or near the airport and has a total annual economic impact estimated at $60 billion. In 2008, 60 million passengers and 1.8 million tons of freight and mail passed through LAX. All of this economic activity depends upon the safety and efficiency of our air travel system.

* The work stoppage will have an immediate negative impact on LAX, delaying a much needed project to design and install new runway status lights. These lights improve visibility for pilots and help them see when it is safe to enter, cross or take off on a runway. Stopping work on important projects like this one will not only delay their completion but also significantly increase the long-term costs for taxpayers.

* Unfortunately, LAX isn't alone in losing out on these funds. Nationwide, over $250 million in contracts for runway status lights have been suspended. Also affected are nearly $20 million in construction and engineering contracts to protect air traffic control towers from earthquakes and over $14 million in projects to research weather technology systems for air traffic facilities and aircraft cockpits. This is no way to run one of the top air transportation systems in the world.

* Why are the Republicans refusing to allow the FAA to reopen its doors? The Republicans certainly cannot claim they are trying to be fiscally responsible. The FAA shutdown is costing the federal government $30 million a day in lost revenue from uncollected airline taxes.

* FAA employees are dedicated public servants who work hard to ensure safe and efficient air travel for the flying public. They are proud of the work they do. I urge my Republican colleagues to let them go back to work.

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