NATCA Bookshelf

REFERENCES 52 NiW Today NATCA in Washington 2026 Key Legislative Votes Air Traffic Controllers Hiring Act of 2023 (S. 2839) This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to set the hiring target for new air traffic controllers as the maximum number of individuals who are able to be trained at the FAA Academy. Continuing Resolution (H.R. 5371) Passage of the bill made continuing appropriations for FY 2026 through Jan. 30, 2026, and ended the 43-day government shutdown. n The bill passed the House 222-209 and the Senate 60-40. Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025 (H.R. 2591 & S. 3257) This bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to update regulations and take any other actions necessary to implement the recommendations of (1) the Aviation Workforce Mental Health Task Group, and (2) the Mental Health and Aviation Medical Clearances Aviation Rulemaking Committee (the ARC). The bill authorizes the FAA to take actions to recruit and train additional medical examiners. Perry Amendment to H.R. 140 (Official Time) This amendment was proposed by Rep. Scott Perry (Pennsylvania 4th District). The Perry amendment singled out official time as a time when federal employees could not engage in a specific activity that would be a new prohibition under the Hatch Act. The duty time restriction already covers official time, so there is no reason to include official time specifically. n Although the Perry amendment did not attempt to eliminate official time, the vote essentially was a proxy for those who supported or opposed official time. n NATCA opposed the Perry amendment, and it was defeated on the House floor in March 2023. n The House tally was 207-223-10. n A similar vote did not occur in the Senate. Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2024 (H.R. 3935) The bill reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through FY2028 and directs the FAA to implement five years of maximum hiring of new air traffic controllers and require FAA to revise and update the Controller Workforce Plan based on staffing targets developed by the Collaborative Resource Workgroup until the National Academies of Science issues its recommendations. The law also requires the FAA to install flight training simulators at facilities throughout the country. The bill was signed into law by President Biden on May 5, 2024. n The bill passed the House 387-26 and the Senate by 88-4. Reps. Yakym-Titus Letter (ATC Max Hiring) This bipartisan letter, sent in December of 2023, called on the leadership of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and the Senate Commerce Committee to include provisions to bolster controller staffing in the 2024 FAA reauthorization law. The provisions were ultimately included in the final bill and now law. n This includes requirements for the FAA to utilize the CRWG staffing targets and conduct maximum controller hiring for the next five fiscal years. n The letter was signed by 138 Members of the House from both parties.

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