Amodei votes to avoid flight delays without raising taxes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Brian Baluta, 202-225-6155

April 26, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman Mark Amodei (NV-2) today voted to give the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) explicit authority to shift funds from lower priority expenses to air traffic control operations. The bill would permit the FAA to transfer $253 million in FY 2013 to air traffic controller salaries and expenses, negating further furloughs of controllers through the end of the fiscal year. The bill would also permit Transportation Secretary LaHood to make additional transfers within FAA accounts. Having passed the Senate Thursday night, the bill now goes to the President for his signature.

“This solution underscores that there are significant savings to be found in every department and agency of the federal government – more than enough to provide the essential services for which taxpayers already paid without demanding higher taxes,” said Amodei. “

Of 47,000 FAA employees, 15,000 are air traffic controllers. While the FAA budget increased 41 percent or $3 billion since 2002, domestic flights are down 27 percent from 2000. Last year, the flying public paid more than $12 billion in excise taxes and user fees and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) reported that despite the sequester, the Department of Transportation will end the year with $34 billion in unobligated funds.

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