Hawai’i Rep. Reacts to Deal Ending FAA Shutdown

By Wendy Osher

Kahului Airport, controll tower. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Congress has reached a deal today to end a partial shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).  The FAA stopped work on projects and furloughed thousands of employees two weeks ago amid unresolved funding issues. Today,  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) announced that a deal had been reached.

Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii),who is a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, responded to the news saying, “fortunately, cooler heads have prevailed to resolve the shutdown.”

Hirono said the shutdown resulted in a loss of more than $350 million in revenue for the Airport and Airway Trust Fund and put more than 70,000 people temporarily out of work.

Hirono said that although a deal has been reached, more work lies ahead.  “When Congress returns to session we must reach an agreement on a long-term FAA bill to end this type of political brinksmanship,” said Congresswoman Hirono.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood also reacted to the FAA deal announcement saying, “This is a tremendous victory for American workers everywhere. From construction workers to our FAA employees, they will have the security of knowing they are going to go back to work and get a paycheck – and that’s what we’ve been fighting for. We have the best aviation system in the world and we intend to keep it that way.”