The Senate has cleared, by unanimous consent, an FAA extension bill that will allow roughly 4,000 furloughed federal employees to return to work. The bill will extend authorization for federal aviation programs through September 16 herby ending the partial shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The House passed this measure on July 20th, but it had been unable to pass the Senate due to a controversial provision that would have eliminated federal subsidies for several small airports. A bipartisan agreement was reached to allow this legislation to pass the Senate today with the understanding that Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood would utilize his authority to exempt several airports from the proposed cuts. President Barack Obama signed the measure on Friday.
The political differences which led to the two-week standoff over funding the FAA, however, have not been resolved. Congress will have to revisit the issue when they return from recess on September 6, and pass a bill by September 16 in order to avoid another lapse in funding.
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