Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and Colorado U.S. Representatives Diana DeGette, Joe Neguse, Jason Crow, and Brittany Pettersen called on Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford to quickly approve Denver International Airport’s (DEN) emergency waiver and allow airports to pay air traffic controllers (ATCs) working without pay due to the Republican-led government shutdown.
On Wednesday, November 5th, DEN submitted a proposal to temporarily use airport funds to pay ATCs to protect public safety, following Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s announcement that the FAA would reduce flights by 10 percent at 40 airports nationwide, including Denver. Many ATCs are currently working outside jobs to help support their families, in addition to working full shifts without pay to keep the public safe on countless flights.
“Thousands of ATCs nationwide work long hours daily, experience fatigue, and overcome chronic staffing shortfalls in order to maintain the highest levels of reliability and safety of the National Airspace System,” wrote Bennet, Hickenlooper, DeGette, Neguse, Crow, and Pettersen. “[DEN] has provided a commonsense proposal that provides a temporary lifeline to the very people ensuring the safety of our skies. Given the urgency of this situation, which now directly affects airports across the country, we urge your immediate approval of this request…”
In their letter, the Colorado lawmakers called on the FAA to immediately approve the airport’s request and work with other local partners nationwide to protect public safety during the ongoing government shutdown. They urged the FAA to commit to fully reimbursing DEN once the government reopens to make sure local partners are not penalized for stepping up to protect the public and air travel during the shutdown.
For months, Congressional Democrats tried to work with Republicans on a budget deal to keep the government open and prevent health insurance premiums from skyrocketing. However, Republicans have refused to engage in good-faith negotiations with Democrats. As a result, the government has been shut down since October 1st, and is now the longest shutdown in history.
The text of the letter is available HERE and below.
Dear Administrator Bedford,
We write to you as members of the Colorado congressional delegation committed to supporting the safety and security needs of major airports and dedicated air traffic controllers (ATCs) who have worked without pay during the ongoing federal government shutdown. We write in support of the request from Denver International Airport (DEN) that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issue guidance or emergency waivers of applicable law to allow airports to use temporary financing tools to immediately pay impacted ATCs, with a process for federal reimbursement once the federal government reopens. DEN submitted this request yesterday, in response to Secretary Duffy’s announcement of an upcoming 10% reduction in flights at major U.S. airports.
Thousands of ATCs nationwide work long hours daily, experience fatigue, and overcome chronic staffing shortfalls in order to maintain the highest levels of reliability and safety of the National Airspace System (NAS). DEN has provided a commonsense proposal that provides a temporary lifeline to the very people ensuring the safety of our skies.
Given the urgency of this situation, which now directly affects airports in across the country, we urge your immediate approval of this request and also ask for your firm commitment that the FAA will work with DEN – and any other airport sponsor that takes this necessary action—to ensure a full and prompt reimbursement for these costs upon the enactment of a continuing resolution or appropriations bill. These local partners should not be penalized for stepping up to protect federal operations and crucial public safety during this lapse in federal funding.
We share a mutual interest in the safety and stability of the NAS. Authorizing this local solution is a vital step towards ensuring that public safety is maintained. We look forward to your prompt and favorable response.
Sincerely,
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