Dozens of Airport Construction Projects Halted, Many Told to Stop Working

By Joan Lowy
WASHINGTON -- Obama administration officials say contractors have been told to stop work on airport modernization projects across the country because Congress has failed to pass legislation necessary for the work to continue.

Officials said Monday that dozens of stop-work orders have been issued for major projects designed to build and modernize control towers and other airport projects.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said that construction workers and communities will suffer "the longer this goes on." He called on Congress to move forward on a bill to extend the Federal Aviation Administration's operating authority, which expired at midnight Friday.

The House and Senate are at a stalemate over air service subsidies for rural communities and a Republican proposal that would make it more difficult for airline workers to unionize, among other issues.
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By AP,
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