Senate OKs Airport-Delay Fix

Bill scores unanimous support
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 26, 2013 2:56 AM CDT
Senate Backs Measure to Halt FAA Furloughs
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, joins the Senate GOP leadership during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 23, 2013.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

The Senate has come together to battle the flight delays plaguing the nation. All 100 senators signed off on legislation letting the Transportation Department transfer $253 million to the FAA operations account, in an effort to end air traffic controller furloughs, Politico reports. "Tonight we worked together in the Senate to avoid total gridlock in our aviation system and avert the real harm that rampant delays would cause to our economy and jobs," says Sen. Jay Rockefeller.

The bill stopped short of including a ban on the closure of 149 air traffic control towers, but the money should be plenty to avoid the risk of shutdown on June 15, says Sen. Jerry Moran. The funds come from airport projects. Now the bill heads to the House, which faces potential political heat if the measure doesn't pass today, Roll Call notes. But GOP leaders have indicated they're likely to approve it. The White House, however, calls the measure a "Band-Aid": "We hope Congress will find the same sense of urgency and bipartisan cooperation to help" people affected by cuts to defense, Head Start, Meals on Wheels, and more. (More sequester stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X