AIA Urges Congress To Fully Fund U.S. Government

The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), along with a number of its members, has been urging Congress to consider adopting a full funding bill for Fiscal Year 2017 rather than a simple extension. That appeal comes as Congress is anticipated to prepare a continuing resolution (CR) that would keep federal government agencies—including the FAA—running at Fiscal Year 2016 funding levels through at least the end of March.

The government currently is operating under a CR that continues funding through December 9. Lawmakers are considering another stopgap measure that would enable them to instead turn their attention to the transition of a new administration. Air traffic control reform advocates often point to the fits and starts of the appropriations process as an underlying argument for the need of an independent, user-funded ATC organization.

AIA told lawmakers in a recent letter signed by more than 70 CEOs and other industry representatives that “few things could provide a greater sense of stability for our industry going forward than completing final FY2017 appropriations bills.”

AIA further urged the lawmakers to “restore full functionality” of the U.S. Export-Import Bank by providing means for the bank to authorize transactions greater than $10 million.