[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 116 (Friday, July 29, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1446-E1447]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              FAA SHUTDOWN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MAXINE WATERS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 29, 2011

  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.

[[Page E1447]]

They need their jobs, and the American people need them.

                          ____________________