On the recordSeptember 15, 2011
I will vote for passage of H.R. 2887, a combined FAA and surface transportation extension bill. This legislation averts a damaging shutdown of either program. If we fail to extend these programs, it will mean layoffs and the loss of significant revenue to fund airport and road programs. The current FAA extension expires tomorrow and the current surface transportation extension expires at the end of the month, along with the authority to collect the Federal gas taxes that fund the Highway Trust Fund. Passing this bill quickly and extending the FAA reauthorization for 4 months and the surface transportation bill for 6 months allows Congress more time to work out the issues that are holding up completing long-term reauthorizations. Just as important, it keeps thousands of workers on the job, supporting their families.
