Sens. Ben Cardin and Barbara Mikulski, both Democrats from Maryland, introduced legislation Friday to provide back pay to the nearly 4,000 furloughed Federal Aviation Administration employees.
The FAA’s operating authority expired July 23 after Congress could not agree to a re-authorization bill. The legislation would allow the furloughed employees to return to work with pay and benefits as Congress continues to work on a new FAA bill.
“The FAA is critical to the safe, efficient operation of our aviation system,†Cardin said. “And this bill will allow the agency to end the furlough and put these federal workers back on the job with pay and benefits until we achieve a full FAA extension.â€
The FAA has issued more than 200 stop work orders for airport construction projects and contracts around the country.
