U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce voted in favor Friday of the bipartisan Reducing Flight Delays Act, H.R. 1765, aimed to reduce flight delays due to Federal Aviation Administration furloughs.

The legislation is anticipated to be signed by President Barack Obama and it would allow the Secretary of Transportation to transfer $253 million from the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program account to the FAA’s Operations account, said Joyce, R-Russell Township. The transfer authority is necessary to prevent reduced operations and staffing at the FAA during the remainder of fiscal year 2013.

The bill requires the Secretary to notify the House and Senate appropriations committee prior to the transfer, the congressman said.

“Significant flight delays hurt the economy and penalize passengers who pay more than $12 billion in FAA taxes and fees annually,” Joyce said in a statement. “I’m pleased to be part of the bipartisan effort to stop these delays, prevent further economic damage, and relieve Ohioans of a giant travel headache.”

John Arthur Hutchison
JHutchison@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @newsheraldjah