A bipartisan group of House lawmakers introduced a bill Tuesday that would allow air traffic controllers to be paid during future government shutdowns, drawing on a little-used federal insurance fund to cover salaries and key Federal Aviation Administration functions. The proposal follows the 43-day shutdown that ended last week, which led to widespread delays and cancellations as staffing pressures intensified across the national airspace system.

The fund, originally established to reimburse airlines if the government commandeers and damages their aircraft, holds roughly $2.6 billion, and sponsors say using it could limit the overall cost of keeping controllers paid during funding lapses.

The bill is backed by U.S. Rep. Sam Graves of Missouri, chairman of the House Transportation and In

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