Congress has until midnight tonight to finally pass a clean extension of the FAA Reauthorization bill—a bill that has already been extended twenty times since 2007 without issue. Reauthorization of the bill ensures that aviation construction projects continue to run smoothly while keeping approximately 4,000 workers employed. $2.5 billion is hanging in the balance in construction projects is hanging in the balance and the government stands to lose $200 million per week in airline ticket taxes until the bill is resolved.

At issue, instead of a clean reauthorization bill as has been passed many times in the past, House Republicans have introduced measures that would eliminate subsidies for 13 rural airports and make it difficult for airline workers to unionize. As a consequence, Ohio may lose nearly $39 million in construction dollars. Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York, Oklahoma, and Texas would all lose more than $50 million each and California would lose more than $131 million. Moreover, workers in 35 states, including Ohio, would face furlough. Transportation Secretary Ray Hood remonstrates, “This is no way to run the best aviation system in the world… Congress needs to do its work.”