Congresswoman Barbara Lee Urges Members in the House and Senate to End Shutdown of the FAA

For Immediate Release

 

Contact: Ricci Graham

510-763-0370

  

Washington D.C. – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-09) today urged members of the House of Representatives and the Senate to take whatever action is necessary to end the partial shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), even if it means calling a special session that would allow the House and Senate to vote on legislation that would permit furloughed FAA employees to return to work.

 

Congresswoman Lee’s district has been particularly impacted by the FAA shutdown, as scores of construction workers have been laid off or furloughed. The shutdown has also drawn to a halt the construction of the new traffic control tower at Oakland International Airport that is a key component in the effort to modernize the airport.

 

 Congresswoman Lee released the following statement concerning the FAA shutdown that has impacted an estimated 4,000 FAA employees and nearly 80,000 construction workers nationwide:

 

“I am extremely concerned about the impact the FAA shutdown is having both locally and nationally,” Congresswoman Lee said. “It is unconscionable that Congress failed to pass legislation that would have authorized funding for the FAA before going into recess. As a result, thousands of Americans workers have been either laid off or furloughed during one of the worst recessions in ourhistory.

 

“It is my hope that Republican House leadership will relent and call a special session that would allow members to vote on legislation that would restore funding to the FAA and allow FAA employees and construction workers to return to work.”

 

 

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