Passage of a stopgap Federal Aviation Administration extension bill through Sept. 16 has ended a congressional stalemate—at least temporarily—that had forced the agency to issue stop-work orders on more than 200 airport modernization contracts, including construction and engineering projects, estimated at more than $10.5 billion.

Although most lawmakers have left Washington for a few weeks, senators approved the extension by unanimous consent during a pro forma session on Aug. 5. President Obama signed the bill into law the same day. The bill passed the House on July 20 and includes a controversial rider that trims the Essential Air Service (EAS) program that subsidizes flights to rural airports.