Congress Introduces Legislation to Pay Federal Aviation Administration and Transportation Security Administration Employees During Shutdown

House Representative John James and Senator Ted Cruz introduced the Keep America Flying Act to address the pay and benefits of FAA and TSA employees working without pay during the government shutdown. The legislation would ensure pay and benefits for air traffic controllers, TSA employees, and other essential personnel.

Key Takeaways:

• The Keep America Flying Act would provide back and ongoing pay for FAA and TSA employees who have worked without pay during the shutdown.
• The bill specifically mentions air traffic controllers and other FAA essential operational personnel, as well as TSA employees engaged in screening operations and aviation security duties.
• Representative John James stated that Democrats are playing "Russian Roulette with other people's lives" by keeping the government shut down and forcing federal employees to work without pay.
• Senator Ted Cruz said that Democrats are using airports as "political leverage" to enact their radical policy agenda.
• NATCA President Nick Daniels stated that air traffic controllers are carrying the weight of the national airspace system without a paycheck and that this is "not acceptable and not sustainable".
• The American Federation of Government Employees' Everett Kelley urged for the passage of a clean continuing resolution to end the shutdown and restore pay to federal workers.

Statistics:

• 13: the number of times Senate Republicans and Democrats have voted to keep the government open and shut down respectively.
• 40: the number of days since House Republicans voted to keep the government open.
• 13: the number of times Senate Democrats have voted to keep the government shut down.
• $1.5 trillion: the estimated value of a proposed giveaway to insurance companies and taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal immigrants.
• 1: the number of time a Senate Democrat has suggested that planes might fall from the sky if the shutdown continues.
• 1: the number of time a House Minority Whip has acknowledged the suffering of families affected by the shutdown.

Sources:

• Representative John James' Office: The Keep America Flying Act
• Senator Ted Cruz's Office: The Keep America Flying Act
• The Washington Post: Democrats say they won't reopen the government unless they get what they want
• The New York Times: Schumer Shutdown Takes Toll on Federal Workers
• The Hill: Democrats' shutdown strategy is causing friction among some lawmakers
• Federal Times: Shutdown update: 7 things to know today