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119-hr-5851119th CongressWALLET
Keep America Flying Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative James, John [R-MI-10]
Introduced
Summary
Continued pay for frontline aviation staff during a funding gap. This bill would authorize Treasury to provide payments to maintain standard pay, allowances, pay differentials, benefits, and other regular compensation for essential FAA air traffic controllers and other FAA personnel required to operate the national airspace system, for TSA employees engaged in screening and aviation security duties, and for contractors those agencies determine support those functions, beginning October 1, 2025 and continuing until new appropriations are enacted or September 30, 2026.
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- Air traffic controllers and FAA essential personnel: They would continue to receive standard pay and benefits during a lapse in FY2026 appropriations so operations needed for the national airspace system can continue.
- TSA screening and security personnel: They would continue to be paid for screening and related mission-support duties necessary to carry out security screening.
- FAA and TSA contractors: The bill would allow payments to contractors the Secretary of Transportation or the TSA Administrator determines provide support to the covered personnel. Those expenditures would be charged to the applicable appropriation when Congress enacts it.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Keep air travel staff paid in shutdown
If enacted, FAA air traffic controllers, essential FAA staff, and TSA screeners would keep getting normal pay and benefits during any FY2026 funding lapse starting October 1, 2025. Contractors who support those workers could also be paid if the agencies approve. The bill would take effect as if on September 30, 2025, and spending during the gap would be charged to later appropriations once they become law. This temporary funding would end when regular or continuing funding for these purposes is enacted, when a new funding law omits money for them, or on September 30, 2026, whichever comes first.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
James, John [R-MI-10]
MI • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7]
PA • R
Sponsored 10/31/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov