“This bipartisan agreement will create or save more than 280,000 jobs while bringing our nation’s air-travel infrastructure into the 21st century. This measure is a compromise: no one got everything they wanted. But after 23 short-term extensions of the FAA dating back to 2007, this four-year agreement protects American jobs and the rights of workers, while avoiding another shutdown. This bill will also modernize our air traffic control system by finally transitioning many airports from World War II-era technology to cutting-edge, GPS navigation. For states like Nevada, which depend on tourism, this bill is vital. Altogether, this legislation protects passengers by reducing delays, making our skies safer and making airlines more fuel-efficient, while saving hundreds of thousands of jobs, including thousands of construction workers.

“I applaud Senator Rockefeller and Representative John Mica for their willingness to compromise and put the national interest ahead of partisan politics. This is what the American people expect their elected officials to do, and I hope we can continue to move forward in this spirit of bipartisanship.”

I am pleased that today the Senate will pass the Aviation Jobs conference report.

This measure is the first long-term reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration in almost five years.

The FAA has worked under 23 short-term extensions since 2007. In fact, the FAA shut down for two weeks last year.

The four-year compromise we’ll pass this evening didn’t give everyone everything they wanted. But it will finally give the FAA the stability it needs to properly maintain a world-class air travel system.

The Aviation Jobs Bill will also create thousands of jobs, protect airline workers and improve safety for travelers. This legislation will create and protect more than 300,000 badly needed jobs.

And it will give the FAA the ability to finally upgrade this country’s air-traffic control system.

Today America relies on World War II-era technology to track aircraft and guide them in for safe landings. An upgrade to modern, satellite technology is long overdue.

The Aviation Jobs Bill will finally make that critical investment possible. It will invest more than $24 billion in airports and runways across the nation, and on modern air traffic control equipment.

I am glad that Democrats and Republicans were finally able to reach this compromise.

I wish the spirit of compromise would also extend to ongoing conference committee negotiations on a year-long payroll tax cut.

I was dismayed to read this morning that rank-and-file Republicans in both chambers are on the fence over whether we should extend this break for working families at all.

More than 160 million American workers will benefit, with the average family saving $1,000 this year.

But Republicans are questioning whether Americans really need that extra cash. And they are once again playing politics and putting our economy at risk as time to reach a compromise runs out.

Democrats have offered to meet them halfway, but Republicans won’t take yes for an answer.

In exchange for extending this middle-class tax break, Republicans are insisting we pass unrelated, ideological legislation that will make our water less safe to drink.

And they’re refusing to close tax loopholes, such as giveaways to oil companies making record profits. Instead they insist on more handouts to millionaires and billionaires before they’ll do anything to benefit the middle class.

The American people have spoken, and they’ve spoken clearly: working families need this $1,000 to put food on the table and gas in the car.

And they won’t tolerate Republicans holding their money hostage to extort political payback, as they did before.

I thought Republicans got the message in December, when they took a beating for opposing this tax cut. I hope they won’t pick this losing fight a second time.

But if they do chose to fight Democrats as we try to put money back in the pockets of 160 million working Americans, the outcome will eventually be the same.

Democrats will not give in when it comes to protecting middle-class families.

That’s why we will prepare a fallback plan in case Republicans refuse to cooperate.

Our legislation will prevent a tax hike on middle-class families, extend unemployment benefits, protect seniors on Medicare from losing their doctors and extend expire tax provisions.

And it will be free of unrelated, ideological legislation designed to please the radical right. Stopping a $1,000 tax increase on virtually every American family is too important to be bogged down with sweeteners for the Tea Party.

Senate Democrats will be prepared to act with or without Republican cooperation.

Republicans must make a choice. They can force a $1,000 tax increase on American families to strengthen the Tea Party. Or they can compromise to strengthen the middle class. The choice is theirs.

“I am pleased that we were able to resolve the major obstacles to an agreement in a manner that protects American workers, and clears the way for a long-term extension of the Federal Aviation Administration. While some issues remain, there is no reason we cannot resolve them in the coming days and avoid any risk of another FAA shutdown.

“Every issue does not have to be a fight. This is a good example of the common-sense results that Democrats and Republicans can produce when they work together, and put the interests of the American people ahead of scoring political points.”

LOCAL NEWS IN OKLAHOMA REPORTING ON COBURN’S OBSTRUCTION—160 WORKERS IN HIS OWN STATE WOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE JOB IF COBURN FORCES FAA SHUTDOWN

Coburn Blocking FAA/Highway Bill In Order to Get Pet Provision Slipped Into the Bill.  Senator Tom Coburn is objecting to proceeding to the FAA/Highway bill, insisting on having a provision of his slipped into the bill without a vote or a hearing on the issue.  Coburn said he would use “all procedural tools at his disposal.”  [Tulsa Oklahoman, 9/15/11; Bloomberg, 9/13/11]

Coburn Twice Voted For Highway Reauthorization Bill That Contained Program He Now Insists on Cutting.  In 2005, when Republicans were in control of the Congress and the White House, Coburn twice voted for the Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill.  The bill Coburn voted for contained the provision that he is now holding the Highway/FAA bill up over. [Vote 220, 7/29/05; Vote 125, 5/17/05]

When Given an Up or Down Vote on His Amendment it Failed 39-59.  In September 2009 Coburn was given a vote on his amendment to end TE funding.  Coburn’s amendment failed 39-59. [Vote 277, 9/16/09]

COBURN FEELING THE HEAT BACK HOME:

VIDEO: Local KWTV in Oklahoma City Says Coburn’s Objection Could Put Thousands of Workers Out Of Jobs” “Well the FAA facing the threat of another partial shutdown thanks to the objections of Oklahoma US Senator Coburn. … If the measure does not pass by tomorrow the FAA’s current operating authority will expire forcing a partial shutdown, putting thousands of workers out of jobs and depriving the government of $30 million dollars a day in uncollected airline ticket taxes.” [KWTV, 9/15/11]

VIDEO: Local KOCO In Oklahoma City Says Senator Coburn’s Objections “Force Thousands Of Airport Employees To Stay Off The Job” “And Senator Tom Coburn’s objections to a bill could force thousands of airport employees to stay off the job” [KOCO, 9/15/11]

VIDEO: Local KOTV in Tulsa Says The FAA Is Facing the Threat Of Another Partial Shutdown “Due to the Objections Of Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn” “The FAA facing the threat of another partial shutdown, and that is due to the objections of Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn. Senator Coburn refuses to give his consent on the stopgap transportation bill as it is now written because he would like to change parts of it…current operating authority is going to expire, and that would force another partial shutdown, which would put thousands of workers on furlough and deprive the government of $30 million a day in uncollected airline ticket taxes” [KOTV, 9/15/11]

VIDEO: Local TV Station KJRH in Tulsa Said Coburn’s Objection Could Force Another FAA  Shutdown By Tomorrow. “An objection from Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn and a procedural tie-up could force another partial shutdown of the FAA by tomorrow.” [KJRH, 9/15/11]

The Oklahoman Said Coburn’s ‘Line In The Sand’ Could Mean Another Partial Shutdown Of The FAA” “Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn’s ‘line in the sand’ could mean another partial shutdown of the FAA if situation isn’t resolved by Friday. Coburn on Wednesday blocked fast-track consideration of a bill to keep money flowing to the FAA and the nation’s highway departments.” [The Oklahoman, 9/15/11]

AND FROM FELLOW REPUBLICANS

Republican Senator Hutchinson Criticized Coburn for Holding up FAA Bill. “I’m hoping that Sen. Coburn will understand the urgency of where we can address his concerns to let him have a vote.  I don’t think you can ever require acceptance of something in a 100-person body  I don’t think he can ask for the amendment to be accepted without a vote. I want FAA to pass without any delays. It’s too costly.”[ Politico, 9/15/11]

COBURN’S MOVE THREATENS JOBS IN HIS OWN STATE:

If Highway Bill Expires, More Than 22,000 Jobs Would Be At Risk in Oklahoma. If the Surface Transportation bill expires this month, approximately 22,454 jobs would be at risk in Oklahoma alone. Nationwide, more than 1.8 million jobs will be at risk if this bill expires. [EPW, 9/1/11]

If Federal Aviation Administration Shuts Down, 160 FAA Employees Would Be Furloughed in Oklahoma Alone, With Thousands More Construction Workers Forced Off the Job.    [Federal Aviation Administration]

Nearly 1/3 of Oklahoma’s Bridges Are In Desperate Need of Repair. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, 32% of Oklahoma’s bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, and 40% of Oklahoma’s major roads are rated in poor or mediocre condition. In addition, 150 of Oklahoma’s 4,427 dams are in need of rehabilitation to meet applicable state dam safety standards.  [ASCE Report Card]

Last Partial FAA Shutdown Delayed “Critical” Piece of Infrastructure, Impacting More than 13,000 Jobs. “With the partial shutdown of the FAA, the government is not collecting the excise tax on tickets, [Tulsa International Airport Director] Mulder said. ‘That hurts us long term. The runway project is a $70 million project and the lack of federal funds means it will take six years to reconstruct the runway instead of one year.’  The runway is one of the most important pieces of infrastructure in northeast Oklahoma, Mulder said. More than 13,000 jobs are directly and indirectly affected by the airport. ‘It supports all those jobs here. It is a critical piece of infrastructure,’ Mulder said.” [Journal Record, 7/27/11]

Senator Malcolm Wallop of Wyoming, died yesterday at the age of 78. I served with him in the Senate until 1995.

His roots in Wyoming stem back to pioneer ancestors in Big Horn, although he was born in New York. He served his country admirably in the Army, and then worked for many years as a cattle rancher and businessman before running for office.

Although we didn’t always agree on the issues, he was a nice man and good friends with Senator Paul Laxalt, from Nevada.

Today we honor his service to this country, both as a soldier and a senator.

In my office I have a painting of a man on horseback, dressed in frontier attire and looking over a beautiful valley in the old West.

His name was Rafael Rivera and the valley would one day come to be known as Las Vegas. Rivera was the first pioneer to enter the valley so many Nevadans today call home.

Today I join more than 50 million Hispanic Americans in the United States in marking the first day of Hispanic Heritage Month.

This celebration of history and culture lasts through October 15. I look forward to the opportunity Hispanic Heritage Month brings each year to honor the contributions of a population that is such an integral part of our national identity.

For hundreds of years, Latinos have helped shape the face of this nation. They have made contributions on the battlefield, in the classroom and in the workplace. They have spurred progress in the laboratory, on the playing field and in our halls of justice. They have shaped the way we farm and the way we do business. And they have influenced our art and literature.

At construction sites and casinos and shopping centers they contribute to the largest industries in my home state of Nevada, where they make up more than a quarter of the population.

Their language even influenced the name of the state, which means “snow covered.” It refers to the snow-capped mountain peaks of our beautiful Sierra Nevada.

Hispanic-Americans have also played an important role in this nation’s armed forces – serving in every conflict since the Revolutionary War. Nearly 30,000 of them have fought for this country in Iraq and Afghanistan, and I thank them for their brave and dedicated service.

And every year Latinos help propel our economy. More than 2.3 million Hispanic-owned businesses employ millions of Americans and provide crucial goods and services.

So today, the Senate recognizes the commitment of more than 50 million Hispanic Americans to family, community and country.

I want to say on the record how much I appreciate the support of the Republicans in allowing us to be able to get on the FEMA bill.

If we’re not able to work out an agreement on that today, we’ll have a number votes relating to that important legislation, which affects millions of Americans who have been devastated by mother nature.

I’m disappointed, however, in one of our Republican colleagues who at this stage is holding up something so vitally necessary.

The House sent us two pieces of legislation that passed overwhelmingly there. One will keep 1.8 million people working on highway construction projects for another six months.

They also sent to us a fully funded, four-month extension of the Federal Aviation Administration, also vitally important.

Unless my friend, the Junior Senator from Oklahoma, agrees to allow us to move forward on this, one senator will stop 80,000 people from working. I hope he will reconsider.

We have told my friend, the Junior Senator from Oklahoma, that we’ll have a vote on his amendment. He won’t let us have a vote on his own amendment.

We must get these two important pieces of legislation passed so that we can keep almost two million people working. There isn’t a state in the union that won’t be affected by these 80,000 people being laid off.

In Nevada we have a new tower being built at McCarran Airport. Work will stop and construction workers will be laid off if we can’t move forward with this legislation.

And that’s not fair to the Senate or to the country.

“Four thousand air travel employees are out of work and safety inspectors are working without pay because Republicans are playing reckless games with airline safety. Republicans are trying to jam through a policy that benefits the CEO of Delta airlines, and laying off thousands of air travel workers just because they are not getting their way.

“There is bipartisan agreement that we should keep air travel employees and safety inspectors on the payroll while we work out our policy differences, but we are being blocked by a handful of Republicans. We should not let ideology interfere with making sure that Americans’ air travel runs as smoothly and safely as possible.”

Washington, DC— Nevada Senator Harry Reid made the following remarks today on the Senate floor. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

“As the country learned today, there was a terrifyingly close call at the Reno airport last night.  It is a miracle that everyone is okay.  We’re grateful that they are.

“This is what happened: Only one air-traffic controller was in the tower during last night’s overnight shift.  A medical aircraft carrying a critically ill passenger couldn’t land because that controller fell asleep on the job.

“We now know that the pilot circled the airport several times.  He tried to call the tower not once or twice, but seven times.  The controller slept through every one of those calls.

“More than 15 minutes later – minutes during which no one could reach the air-traffic controller while a critically ill passenger suffered – the pilot landed without any guidance from the airport.

“This shouldn’t happen in Nevada.  It shouldn’t happen anywhere in the country.  It shouldn’t happen to any airplane.  And it certainly shouldn’t happen to an air ambulance.

“I spoke today with the Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, and I’m pleased he’s acting quickly to make sure this doesn’t happen ever again – in Reno, or anywhere else.

“Why did it happen?  Reno was one of 27 airports in the country that sometimes had only one air-traffic controller on the overnight shift.  Because of Secretary LaHood’s quick action, there will now be zero.  Effective immediately, every airport will have at least two controllers in the tower.

“I’ve flown into and out of that airport in Reno many times.  In October, I was there for the opening of its new control tower.  It was badly needed.  When the Reno airport’s old control tower was built, Dwight Eisenhower was in the White House and the Dodgers were in Brooklyn.

“In the half century since, the area’s population more than tripled.  So it was fitting, we said at the time, that the airport opened a control tower three times as tall as the old one.

“But last night’s near-tragedy reminds us that state-of-the-art structures and the best technology work only as well as the people operating them.  If those people fall asleep on the job, they risk the lives of the millions of Americans who fly into and out of our airports every day.

“Secretary LaHood and Randy Babbitt, the FAA Administrator, are doing their jobs.  I appreciate their responsiveness and share their outrage that this ever happened.

“Congress has a role to play, too, and we have to do our job.  The Senate passed a bill in February – two months ago – to modernize America’s air travel.  It would improve aviation safety and protect travelers.  It would even help reduce delays, and improve access to rural communities.  And it would do all of this while creating jobs.

“The Republican House also passed a companion bill this month.  But the House bill is almost the opposite of ours.  It’s dangerous.  It doesn’t protect passengers; it imperils them.

“The Republican bill would cut the modern navigation systems at our nation’s airports.  The FAA said that the House bill would force it to furlough safety-related employees.  Not just any employees – those whose primary job is keeping air travel safe.  That doesn’t make any sense.

“It would also keep airports from making the infrastructure improvements they need, and would completely end the program that ensures rural communities – small towns like Ely, Nevada – have air service.

“The Senate-passed bill and the House-passed bill are now in conference committee to work out the differences.  Clearly, there are a lot of differences, and the conferees have some choices to make.  But they need to make them quickly so that both houses can pass this bill and send it to the President.

“Again, we’re grateful that everyone in Reno is okay.  But the next time, we may not be so lucky.

“Let’s make our airports and air travel as safe as possible, as soon as possible, so that next time, we don’t have to rely on luck.”