The legislation would also do the same for TSA baggage screeners.
Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has introduced a bill that would ensure air traffic controllers get paid during the ongoing government shutdown.
S. 3031, whose text POLITICO obtained, is co-sponsored by Republican Sens. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska).
The legislation would provide funds to the FAA during the lapse in appropriations so the aviation agency can pay controllers and other “essential operational personnel.” It would do the same for TSA baggage screeners and other security workers at that agency, and fund payments to any contractors supporting these officials at the FAA and TSA.
“We cannot allow Democrats to use our airports as political leverage to try to enact their radical policy agenda. Airport workers are doing their job to keep people safe — which is more than I can say for Chuck Schumer and the Democrats,” Cruz said in a statement.
Controllers are poised to miss their first full paycheck Tuesday. This workforce has the potential to up the pressure on lawmakers to strike a funding deal. If even a few, for example, were to call out sick at a major facility, flight delays could quickly mount.
It’s unclear when exactly the legislation could get a Senate vote. Via a procedural move, Majority Leader John Thune late Wednesday got the bill added to the upper chamber’s legislative calendar, meaning it is eligible for floor consideration.
A Thune spokesperson didn’t immediately respond to inquiries from POLITICO.
A bill from Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), S. 3012, to pay essential workers such as controllers during the shutdown, is poised for a procedural vote Thursday, but it’s not expected to receive enough Democratic support to pass.