Quigley Statement on FAA Shutdown

CHICAGO -- Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) issued the following statement after both houses of Congress adjourned, leaving the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in a partial shutdown.

"This is another example of everyday Americans paying the price of Washington's political infighting. Essentially four or five members are playing chicken with a vital federal agency. Their game now means that we are losing $30 million dollars a day, hundreds of essential air projects won't move forward, and thousands of people are out of work. Our constituents deserve better."

The FAA has been shutdown since July 23, when Congress failed to pass legislation to reauthorize the agency. The shutdown is costing the federal government $30 million a day, 4,000 FAA employees"including 145 in Illinois"have been furloughed, close to 70,000 construction and support workers could be out of work, and stop-work orders have been issued for more than 200 projects nationwide.