House and Senate Pass Bill to Ease Air-Traffic Delays, Obama to Sign Legislation

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on Friday that should relieve the air travel delays that were caused by the furlough of air traffic controllers that started last Sunday.  An identical bill passed the Senate late Thursday.

The measure will go to the White House where President Obama is expected to sign it.  The White House participated in creating the legislation.

The bill passed the House on a 361-41 vote.

The measure gives the Secretary of Transportation the ability to restore the nation’s air traffic control system to full strength.  Once signed, the bill brings an end to one major battle over budget and taxes in Washington.  The air traffic controllers were furloughed thanks to the sequestration that took effect on March 1, requiring across-the-board spending cuts in almost all federal agencies.  A public backlash ensued after the Federal Aviation Administration warned that thousands of flights would be delayed each day after the furloughs.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)