One day before Congress is set to leave Washington for a two week recess,Congressman Nick Langworthy (R-NY-23) is not holding out much hope for a deal to end the partial government shutdown and compensate about 50,000 TSA agents.
"This is such a mess," said Langworthy, "and a great example of how people are doing things spitefully for the sake of their own politics and satisfying their base." Adding, "it's backfiring in the face of a lot of people around the country."
Security lines at many airports are getting longer and thousands of TSA officers calling out day after day amid a crush of spring break travelers.
The appropriations bill has passed the House multiple times. It's being held up by the Senate and Langworthy noted that it is putting air travel in peril.
"Our skies are vulnerable to attack because you have a low morale workforce at the TSA.We have to support these people and get them paid," he said.
Can Congress resolve this before the scheduled recess?
Langworthy said it's unlikely.
"The Senate doesn't move that fast. There was a framework of a deal on Tuesday, but from what I'm hearing today, it doesn't look like that deal is at hand."
Will they still take the recess?
"That's up to Leader John Thune. Here in the House, we're going to pass the entire appropriations bill, again," said Langworthy.
Congress set to leave town by week's end for a two week recess
