WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- A bill that would extend funding for the Federal Aviation Administration and highway and transit programs cleared the U.S. House and was sent to the Senate.
Passage of the FAA funding extension Tuesday came less than two months after a dispute caused a partial shutdown of the agency.
The four-month extension bill would keep FAA funding at the level where it has been since 2007, The Washington Post reported.
The bill included a six-month funding extension for highway and transit programs.
"Extending these programs is critical to our economic recovery, and the pending measure does so without any poison pills or draconian cuts to investment in our surface transportation programs," said Rep. Nick J. Rahall II, D-W.Va., top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
However, committee Chairman John Mica, R-Fla., emphasized the importance of longer-term funding measures, the Post said.
"While this legislation signifies a bipartisan, bicameral agreement to move forward, it must not be just a temporary Band-Aid for our important aviation, highway, rail and safety programs and for job creation," he said. "This action represents a last chance to roll up our sleeves and get transportation projects in America moving again."
