WASHINGTON – Congressman Andy Barr issued the following statement today after the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to address the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) air traffic controller furloughs:
“The flight delays and cancellations that Americans have been forced to endure over the past week were caused by this administration’s decision to implement President Obama’s sequestration cuts in the most painful manner possible. For more than three years, the people of the Sixth Congressional District have asked me to reduce spending and prioritize how the government spends taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars. I am pleased that today, a bipartisan majority of the House passed legislation that will avert delays for airline passengers imposed by this Administration's political games."
###
H.R. 1765, the Reducing Flight Delays Act, passed by a vote of 361-41. H.R. 1765 allows the secretary of Transportation to transfer $253 million from the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program account to the FAA’s Operations account. The transfer authority is necessary to prevent reduced operations and staffing at the FAA during the remainder of fiscal year 2013 and will ensure a safe and effective transportation system. The bill requires the Secretary to notify the House and Senate Appropriations Committees prior to the transfers.