Governor Mary Fallin Expresses Disappointment with Congress After FAA Reauthorization Extension Goes Unaddressed

The House passed the bill in April and the Senate passed a different version and to date cannot reach agreement. According to reports, this latest extension set to expire at midnight tonight was the 20th extension enacted since FAA's authorization officially expired Sept. 30, 2007. Reminder to all that the Democrats took control of both houses of Congress in January 2007 and since that time we have seen more extensions for everything as they cannot seem to get the job done. This is just another example. How can an authorization have 20 extensions? But then the Democrats have not provided a budget for the last two years.

The House this year passed their budget in April but the Senate still doesn't have a budget. That is no way to run the US Government.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 22, 2011

Governor Mary Fallin Expresses Disappointment with Congress After FAA Reauthorization Extension Goes Unaddressed

OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today expressed disappointment with Congress for failing to pass the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization extension. The FAA’s current authorization will expire tonight at midnight.

The failure to pass a reauthorization extension could endanger funding for the FAA Airport Improvement program, FAA facilities and equipment as well as the NextGen Air Transportation System. In Oklahoma, over $54 million in construction projects at Will Rogers Airport, Tulsa International Airport and general aviation airports across the state could be in jeopardy. Additionally, approximately 130 employees at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City are expected to be furloughed indefinitely without pay.

“It is essential that Congress act quickly to pass an FAA reauthorization bill,” Fallin said. “Continuing to delay will have serious consequences for Oklahoma’s economy. Both parties in Washington claim to be doing everything they can to help American workers, but Congress’ continued inaction is destroying jobs across the entire country. On behalf of the many Oklahomans whose jobs are now in jeopardy, I am calling on our legislators to end the continued gridlock and act quickly to pass FAA reauthorization legislation.”

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