Washington, DC – Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet released the following statement after a tentative agreement was announced to end the current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) shutdown. The shutdown affected hundreds of jobs and tens of millions of dollars of economic activity in Colorado:
“While I have yet to see the details, today’s agreement means another needless, Washington-inflicted crisis has been averted; but keeping the lights on is hardly an appropriate standard of success for Congress,” said Bennet. “Washington’s dysfunction has real and harmful effects for Colorado’s working families and our economy as a whole. Coloradans agree: The political games need to stop. They expect us to set aside our differences, work together and do our jobs.”
Last week, Bennet spoke on the floor of the Senate on the importance of passing the FAA reauthorization bill and sent a letter, along with Colorado U.S. Senator Mark Udall, urging an extension of the bill. He also cosponsored a bill that would allow the FAA to continue to pay furloughed workers during a shutdown.