Congress temporarily resolves FAA dispute

WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Congress agreed Thursday to restore funding for the Federal Aviation Administration until September.

The deal will allow 4,000 laid off FAA employees and thousands of construction workers to return to their jobs, the New York Daily News reported. The parties did not settle the disagreements that led to the impasse, postponing any resolution until after the August recess.

Republicans, who have a majority in the House, insisted any FAA reauthorization would have to cut subsidies for air service in some rural areas and include restrictions on unionizing by railroad and airline workers.

Air traffic controllers continued to work during the shutdown. A handful of inspectors have been working without pay.

Transportation Secretary Raymond LaHood, a former Republican congressman, has been blasting Congress for failing to resolve the situation.

"The idea that they have left town on their vacations and they are receiving a paycheck and they talk a lot about jobs. They give good speeches about it. I want them to walk the walk. Come back to D.C.," LaHood told CNN on Thursday.

A vote is expected Friday.