WASHINGTON D.C.-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced today that the Senate will vote on the House Bill giving temporary authorization to the FAA to re-open their doors and again go to work.
The bill the Senate is approving has in it the provision to cut $16.5 million in rural airport subsidies. These were cuts insisted upon by the House Republicans. The bill gives authorization for that administration until mid-September, when the issue will be picked up again.
The provision cutting rural funding is not an issue according to Senate Democrats, as they claim assurances by the Obama administration that those cuts will be negated and it will be business as usual at those airports. An un-named leadership Aide stated that Obama said the airports will be held harmless by the bill.
Ray LaHood, Transportation Secretary said of the announcement by Reid, “This is a tremendous victory for American workers everywhere.”