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Press Release Published: Apr 26, 2013

Issa Statement on Resolution of FAA Furlough Situation

WASHINGTON – Today, on a vote of 361-41, the House of Representatives passed the Reducing Flight Delays Act of 2013 (H.R. 1765), a bill to ensure the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can end furloughs of air traffic controllers by making more responsible spending cuts elsewhere. The legislation, which the Senate approved yesterday, now heads to the President’s desk for his signature.
 
“This legislation underscores that the delays airline passengers have faced were entirely avoidable,” said House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif. “Had the Administration come to Congress in a timely fashion and requested authority to transfer funds, there would have been broad bipartisan support for avoiding delays altogether.  Instead, the administration opted to create a sequestration spectacle inconveniencing millions of airline passengers.” 
 
In February, Issa asked 17 federal agencies to identify alternative spending cuts to sequestration.  The Department of Transportation is among the 16 agencies that have not responded. Yesterday, in a joint letter with House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster, R-Pa., Issa requested internal Department of Transportation documents related to the political nature of the FAA furloughs.