Ordinary Americans suffer under a staggering unemployment rate of over 9% and instead of focussing on growing the economy, Congress spent months debating the debt ceiling. For Congress to go on recess without passing the FAA extention while FAA jobs languish until they return in September, is unconscienable.

Congressional politics and failure to pass the FAA extension, not the economy, are costing Americans jobs right now. Transportation Secretary Roy LaHood has appealed to Congress to come back and put the FAA workers back to work by passing an extension right now. Unless they come back to pass this legislation, the FAA will be in a partial shut down until September. This is costly to America and unacceptable.

Since July 23, about 4,000 FAA workers have been furloughed and countless airport construction projects have been stalled.

Transportation advocates estimate about 70,000 construction workers have been put out of work by the shutdown, which is costing the federal government approximately $30 million per day in money that would normally be paid in taxes on airline ticket sales.

The needless loss of jobs, projects and income can be reversed immediately - if Congress comes back and passes the extension now. We urge Congress to do the work of the people, postpone their vacation and pass the FAA extension now.