Press Releases

Tomorrow, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will consider H.R. 6086, the Aviation Funding Solvency Act, bipartisan legislation to ensure that, during any future government shutdowns, the U.S. National Airspace System and those responsible for its safe and efficient operation are protected from any lapses in federal funding.

H.R. 6086 was introduced in the House of Representatives on November 18^th by 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 Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Andre Carson (D-IN). The Committee is scheduled to consider this bill, and other legislation, at 10:00 AM (ET) on Thursday, December 18, 2025.

Numerous stakeholder groups throughout the aviation community are speaking out in support of H.R. 6086, including:

Modern Skies Coalition (a broad coalition of 56 aviation stakeholders): “Our Coalition supports passage of this legislation that preserves the safety and operational integrity of the aviation ecosystem by protecting federal aviation workers and infrastructure. 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.” (read the full letter here)

Coalition of Business Associations – Airlines for America, Business Roundtable, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Travel Association: “Government shutdowns cause real and lasting economic harm to American businesses, workers, and families. They also jeopardize the reliability of the aviation system that keeps people and goods moving safely. We encourage Members of Congress to work together to prevent future shutdowns. If a lapse in funding occurs, we urge policymakers to ensure essential services and the personnel who perform them remain unaffected. That is why we support legislation like H.R. 6086, the Aviation Funding Solvency Act, that would provide uninterrupted pay for air traffic controllers and aviation safety inspectors during a shutdown.” (read the full letter here)

Aeronautical Repair Station Association: “The Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) strongly supports the Aviation Funding Solvency Act (H.R. 6086), which will protect the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS) and aerospace supply chain from disruption in the event of a future government shutdown.” (read the full letter here)

Affordable Skies Coalition: “H.R. 6086 represents an important step toward providing the funding stability needed to support aviation operations, protect safety, and maintain confidence in the system that millions of Americans rely on every day. From a consumer perspective, certainty and continuity matter. Travelers expect and deserve an aviation system that is not vulnerable to repeated funding disruptions.” (read the full letter here)

Air Line Pilots Association, International: “This bipartisan legislation will ensure that in the event of a future government shutdown the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can continue to function and our nation’s frontline aviation workforce is protected…. Maintaining the highest safety standards demands a system that can operate without interruption and where the FAA’s mission to protect the public is never compromised by politics. ALPA firmly believes that Congress has a responsibility to safeguard the stability of the National Airspace System by guaranteeing the FAA and air traffic control remain unaffected during government shutdowns—ensuring air safety remains a top national priority, not a political bargaining chip.” (read the full letter here)

Air Traffic Control Association: “This bipartisan legislation addresses a critical vulnerability in our nation's aviation infrastructure by ensuring the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can maintain uninterrupted operations during future government shutdowns…. Our National Airspace System maintains multi-layered safety controls that require consistent support for air traffic controllers, technicians, and aviation professionals. Predictable funding, continuous training, and uninterrupted equipment maintenance are necessities for preserving the world's safest airspace.” (read the full letter here)

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association: “As we have seen, past government shutdowns have demonstrated that even temporary funding lapses create unnecessary risk, operational uncertainty, and strain on the highly skilled workforce responsible for maintaining the safety and efficiency of the National Airspace System…. Your bill would protect aviation safety and continuity of operations, support and retain a highly specialized federal workforce, prevent avoidable disruptions to commerce, travel, and emergency services, and reinforce the principle that public safety functions should never be subject to funding lapses.” (read the full letter here)

Airlines for America: “There is no reason for our nation’s economy, aviation system or consumer base to be subjected to a repeat of the chaos and destruction caused by this year’s government shutdown. That is why we support your bill, which uses monies already paid to the federal government, that will preserve the safety and operational integrity of the aviation system. (read the full letter here)

American Airlines: “By allowing the FAA to access the Aviation Insurance Revolving Fund during a government shutdown, the FAA will have the resources necessary to continue its important work. This includes paying the individuals who are integral to maintaining the resilience and safety of our airspace. We encourage Congress to enact H.R. 6086 into law before another government shutdown occurs.” (read the full letter here)

American Association of Airport Executives: “The Aviation Funding Solvency Act offers a sensible solution allowing the FAA to access the Aviation Insurance Revolving Fund during a shutdown, ensuring frontline aviation professionals are paid and vital services remain uninterrupted. Travelers, shippers, and other users contribute nearly $24 billion annually in taxes and fees to fund aviation operations, and they deserve consistent, high-quality service regardless of Washington’s budget negotiations.” (read the full letter here)

Association of Air Medical Services: “Emergency air medical patients should never be subjected to shutdowns that may jeopardize their ability to receive critical care. We urge Congress to pass this much needed legislation.” (read the full letter here)

Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International: “This legislation sends a clear message that ensuring the safety of the flying public will always be a priority, even during periods of funding uncertainty.” (read the full letter here)

Atlas Air Worldwide: “By protecting federal aviation workers and infrastructure, this legislation will help strengthen contingency planning and provide mechanisms to maintain essential aviation services during lapses in federal funding, ultimately reducing disruption and supporting continuity of operations.” (read the full letter here)

Cargo Airline Association: “Government shutdowns unnecessarily disrupt aviation operations, strain the workforce, and jeopardize supply chains that American businesses, communities and consumers rely on. H.R. 6086 responsibly uses aviation user-paid funds to ensure essential Federal Aviation Administration professionals are paid and essential government functions continue without interruption.” (read the full letter here)

Dallas Forth Worth International Airport: “Airports depend on fully staffed federal agencies to ensure the safety, security and efficiency of the national airspace system…. DFW Airport appreciates this bipartisan commitment to maintaining the safety and security of our nation’s airport system.” (read the full letter here)

Delta Airlines: “Delta Air Lines is grateful to House T&I Committee leadership Chair Sam Graves, Ranking member Rick Larsen and Reps. Troy Nehls and André Carson for their bipartisan support of the Aviation Funding Solvency Act. This vital bill will guarantee FAA employees responsible for managing our national airspace system receive paychecks in the event of any future shutdown. Shutdowns not only harm the livelihoods of the men and women in essential positions with the FAA, they harm airline customers and the U.S. economy. We urge Congress to immediately pass this important legislation to ensure the unnecessary chaos of the longest government shutdown in history never happens again.” (read the full statement)

Experimental Aircraft Association: “EAA supports the passage of this legislation that shields aviation and the National Airspace System from the negative impacts of future government shutdowns. We look forward to continuing to work with the Committee to secure the FAA’s ability to provide full Air Traffic Control services and ensuring the safety of all users of the National Airspace System during any future lapses in funding.” (read the full letter here)

FAA Managers Association: “The FAA Managers Association is strongly supportive of H.R. 6086, the Aviation Funding Solvency Act. For much too long, our air traffic community has been used as pawns in the seemingly annual federal government shutdown showdowns. The financial and emotional toll each of these shutdowns has had on our air traffic managers and supervisors cannot be overstated. By utilizing an existing funding mechanism, this legislation would help ensure that such a situation never happens again. We loudly applaud Chairman Graves, Ranking Member Larsen, and the entire House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee for their invaluable leadership on this effort and encourage swift passage of this vital bill.”

General Aviation Manufacturers Association: “This bipartisan measure will help to preserve the safety and operational integrity of the aviation system by ensuring that Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic controllers, technicians, safety inspectors, and certification personnel continue to be paid for their critical work during future government shutdowns.” (read the full letter here)

International Air Transport Association: “H.R. 6086 is critical for maintaining the integrity of the U.S. airspace system. Air traffic controllers and other FAA personnel are indispensable to preventing delays, mitigating risks, and sustaining the confidence of passengers and airlines alike. Continuity in these functions is not only a matter of convenience but a necessity for national security and economic stability, especially given the interconnected nature of global aviation networks.” (read the full letter here)

National Air Carrier Association: “FAA services are essential to the safety, efficiency, and reliability of the national airspace system, and disruptions caused by government shutdowns create unnecessary risk and uncertainty for air carriers, aviation workers, and the traveling public. Providing continuity of FAA operations during a shutdown is critical to maintaining aviation safety and avoiding avoidable disruptions to air commerce.” (read the full letter here)

National Air Traffic Controllers Association: “With the recent shutdown in the past, but another funding deadline looming at the end of January 2026, NATCA is focused on both preventing another harmful government shutdown and passing H.R. 6086 to ensure that the dedicated American workers who operate, maintain, and upgrade the NAS would never again be exposed to the distractions, stress, and financial insecurity of working without pay, while overseeing the safe and efficient movement of passengers and cargo throughout the system.” (read the full letter here)

National Air Transportation Association: “This important legislation would mitigate the negative effects of future government shutdowns on the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) critical safety mission. With the National Airspace System (NAS) facing both historic challenges and transformative innovation, essential FAA safety functions should no longer be subject to the uncertainty of budgetary impasses.” (read the full letter here)

National Business Aviation Association: “The Aviation Solvency Act draws on monies already paid by aviation users to ensure funding for the FAA’s air traffic controllers and other critical functions during future government shutdowns, allowing controllers to remain focused on their duties, and prevent avoidable disruptions to aviation safety and system reliability.” (read the full letter here)

NetJets: “NetJets supports the T&I Committee’s commitment to securing a stable funding mechanism for the dedicated professionals who manage our national airspace system.  Ensuring controllers and other aviation safety personnel are paid without disruption during a lapse in government funding would allow them to remain focused on their safety-critical responsibilities, directly supporting the safe and efficient operation of the national airspace system.  We applaud T&I Committee Chairman Sam Graves, Ranking Member Rick Larsen, Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Troy Nehls, and Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member André Carson for working in a bipartisan fashion to protect the continuity of critical aviation services.”

Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO: “Funding uncertainty has real and immediate consequences for aviation safety. When FAA funding is unstable or subject to repeated short-term extensions, safety-critical programs are delayed, workforce planning is disrupted, and long-term investments in infrastructure and technology are deferred.” (read the full letter here)

Reliable Robotics: “This bill will make certain that Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees responsible for aviation safety and air traffic control functions are not directly impacted by possible future government shutdowns.” (read the full letter here)

RTX Corporation: “This bipartisan legislation will ensure that during any future government shutdown, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is able to continue its safety-critical missions, including the safe and efficient operation of the National Airspace System (NAS) and certification activities that industry relies on to safely field technology.” (read the full letter here)

Southwest Airlines: “Southwest Airlines fully supports H.R. 6086, the ‘Aviation Funding Solvency Act,’ and urges its quick adoption. This important piece of legislation will guarantee pay for essential FAA workers, such as air traffic controllers and safety inspectors, and ensure the continuous stability of the national airspace system. The government shutdown that occurred in October and November placed considerable strain on our operations, Employees and Customers, and it cannot happen again. With another government funding deadline approaching, we need H.R. 6086 to become law sooner rather than later. Thank you for Chairman Graves and Ranking Member Larsen’s leadership on this important issue!”

Spirit Airlines: “Our ability to operate safely and reliably depends on a fully functioning airspace system. Shutdowns jeopardize that system, creating uncertainty for airlines and passengers alike. This legislation addresses those vulnerabilities head-on, safeguarding both public safety and the economic engine that the aviation industry represents.” (read the full letter here)

Travel Technology Association: “Past government shutdowns demonstrated how lapses in funding for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operations can disrupt air travel and place unnecessary strain on the aviation workforce, particularly air traffic controllers responsible for maintaining the safety and efficiency of the national airspace system. When FAA operations are affected, travelers experience cascading delays, cancellations, and uncertainty across the travel marketplace. H.R. 6086 provides a targeted and responsible solution by allowing the FAA to maintain critical operations during a lapse in appropriations, while preserving appropriate fiscal safeguards.” (read the full letter here)

U.S. Travel Association: “For the travel industry in particular, funding lapses that disrupt aviation operations have immediate and far-reaching consequences for travelers, workers, and the broader economy. According to data from Tourism Economics, the recent 43-day government shutdown cost the travel economy more than $6 billion. H.R. 6086 is a commonsense, bipartisan solution that would ensure air traffic controllers continue to be paid in the event of a lapse in government funding, helping to maintain aviation safety and operational stability during periods of fiscal uncertainty.” (read the full letter here)

United Airlines: “Our nation’s aviation workers deserve pay and our gratitude for maintaining a safe environment throughout the shutdown and every day. On behalf of United Airlines, I urge Congress to pass H.R. 6086 to shield federal aviation workers amid government shutdowns, protecting the operational integrity and safety of the aviation system.” (read the full letter here)

Vertical Aviation International: “H.R. 6086 takes an important step toward ensuring the long-term solvency and stability of aviation funding. A predictable and sustainable funding structure is essential to maintaining the safety and efficiency of the National Airspace System, supporting workforce stability, modernizing infrastructure, and enabling innovation across all segments of aviation.” (read the full letter here)

Letters and statements of support for H.R. 6086 can also be found here.