Press Releases

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX), and Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN) today introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure that, during any future government shutdowns, the U.S. National Airspace System and those responsible for its safe, efficient operation are protected from any lapses in federal funding.

The Aviation Funding Solvency Act eliminates the additional strain on the U.S. aviation system that can build during government shutdowns by ensuring that air traffic controllers and other Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) professionals responsible for managing the airspace will continue to get paid. The bill will allow the FAA, during a shutdown, to access the Aviation Insurance Revolving Fund to cover critical services that will keep our aviation system running safely for the traveling public, while ensuring the Revolving Fund has a healthy balance to address potential claims.

The Aviation Insurance Revolving Fund covers war risk insurance claims by airlines when they are activated under the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) program. The fund’s balance was originally funded by airline war risk insurance premiums, but that program has been terminated since 2014. Despite being largely unused, interest accumulation has increased the balance of the fund to more than $2.6 billion, which is significantly more than the fund has needed to cover CRAF claims.

Click here to read the bill.

Graves said, “I am grateful for our federal employees, especially our air traffic controllers, who showed up day-in and day-out throughout the shutdown to do their jobs, without pay, to ensure the safety of our aviation system and the nation. But we all saw that the system can be vulnerable when Congress can’t get its job done. This bill guarantees that controllers, who have one of the most high-pressure jobs in the nation, will get paid during any future funding lapses and that air traffic control, aviation safety, and the traveling public will never again be negatively impacted by shutdowns.”

Larsen said, “Thank you to our invaluable aviation safety workforce, who, during the longest shutdown in history, did not waver in their duties to keep the flying public safe – despite not knowing when their next paycheck would come. These hardworking women and men should never have to sacrifice pay – making an already difficult job even more stressful. Our bipartisan bill ensures air traffic controllers and other aviation safety personnel will continue to get paid during future shutdowns and allows the FAA to operate uninterrupted so the agency can focus on its critical airspace safety mission.”

Nehls said, “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing legislation that ensures the professionals responsible for ensuring the safety and efficiency of our airspace are guaranteed pay through a federal government shutdown. Shutdowns shouldn’t put the safety of our national airspace and the flying public at risk. To avoid unnecessary pressure and strain on our aviation system, we must ensure those who are responsible for the operation of our airspace aren’t financially affected in the event of a future federal government shutdown.”

Carson said, “A government shutdown should never affect our air travel the way it did earlier this month. Air traffic controllers already have one of the most stressful jobs in the country, and they deserve to be paid regardless of what’s happening in Washington. Our new, bipartisan bill will ensure FAA employees are paid and travelers don’t have to experience unnecessary interruptions.”