Bill filed in House to fund FAA during future shutdowns

The Aviation Funding Solvency Act—introduced by Reps. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), who lead the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, along with Reps. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) and André Carson (D-Ind.), who lead the Subcommittee on Aviation—was filed on November 18.

The bipartisan bill would draw from the Aviation Insurance Revolving Fund to keep the FAA operating during shutdowns. If the available funds are not sufficient to sustain all FAA operations, the agency would be required to prioritize air traffic control operations and controller pay.

The fund, originally established to cover war risk insurance claims by airlines participating in the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program, has been largely untouched and has grown to $2.6 billion due to interest accumulation.

Another bill introduced earlier this year by Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) would also protect FAA and ATC operations during a government shutdown by drawing on the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, which already funds much of the FAA’s budget. AOPA strongly supports both efforts.

“The effects of having fewer air traffic controllers on duty, without pay, is one of the first ways everyday Americans have felt the impact of recent government shutdowns,” said AOPA President Darren Pleasance. “This bill is vital to making sure the safety and efficiency of our national airspace system is not politicized during lapses in government funding.”

“This bill comes at a critical moment as the longest shutdown in U.S. history has just ended, and it clearly had a disruptive impact on our national airspace system,” said AOPA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Advocacy Jim Coon. “This government shutdown came at the same time the FAA is trying to hire and train more controllers and modernize the equipment they rely on each day. These bills would not only stabilize our nation’s aviation system during government shutdowns but also help protect progress being made to strengthen it.”

The Modern Skies Coalition—made up of more than 50 aviation companies and organizations, including AOPA—sent a letter to congressional leaders in support of the new bill, saying, “There is no reason aviation should be subjected to shutdowns that result from Washington’s inability to come to consensus on funding bills. Enough is enough. The time for this common sense and critical legislation is now.”