A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/589908
On October 14, 2015, NATCA requested a briefing on the Closed Runway Opera tion Prevention Device (CROPD). We are currently in the proce ss of scheduling this briefing. NATCA PO Cs: Labor Relations Representative Melinda Kim and Labor Relations Coordinator Kendal Manson GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE : The House and Senate were in recess last week for the Columbus Day holiday. The Senate came back into ses sion on Monday, October 19 and the House came back into session on Tuesday, October 20. NATCA CALLS ON CONGRESS TO EXAMINE STAFFING CRISIS : On Tuesday, October 13, NATCA held a press roundtable calling for a congressional hearing about the chronic underst affing of air traffic control facilities. New data show that national staffing totals have fallen nearly 10 percent since 2011. Official Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data shows the agency will miss its air traffic controller hiring goal for fiscal year 2015. This will be the fifth consecutive fiscal year in which the FAA has not hired enough air traffic controllers to keep up with the pace of workforce attrition. As of August 22, 2015, the FAA had only hired 1,178 of a planned 1,772 air traffic con trollers, putting the agency 34 percent behind its goal. Of the 10,859 certified controllers, 30 percent are eligible to retire at any time . For more information about the staffing crisis and our request to Congress, please click here . The roundtable was hosted for members of the press at the NATCA National Office by EVP Trish Gilbert, Dean Iacopelli (Eastern Region al Vice President ), Jim Marinitti (Southern Region al Vice Pr esi dent), and Scott Montroy (Dallas TRACON FacRep). HOUSE SPEAKER ELECTION STILL ON HOLD : House Republicans have yet to elect a new speaker to take over for current House Speaker John Boehner, who was set to resign the speakership and his congressional seat effective October 30. With the shock still resonating from Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy's announcement that he would not stay in the running for speaker, the GOP has been in turmoil. The leadership shake up makes the next few months unpredictable, especi ally as Congress faces several important deadlines before the holidays. During the recess, House Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan sustained peer pressure to run for speaker, but so far he has not budged. Over the weekend, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelos i said her caucus might be open to helping the GOP select a leader. GA staff will be closely monitoring progress on this issue, especially as it pertains to the congressional agenda and the important issues discussed in this update. BUDGET TALKS REMAIN Q UIET…BUT CONTINUE : Amid the current tumult in the house, budget talks remained quiet while the chamber was in recess last week. Lawmakers have been hoping to craft a broad, long - term budget deal to provide FY 16 funding for the federal government in time f or the December 11 deadline in order to avoid a government shutdown. The deal could address several important agenda items at once, including sequestration and the debt limit, which are discussed further below. More than 100 House GOP " defense hawks " are v owing to reject any fiscal 2016 spending bill that could short - change the Pentagon, fueling concern over the likelihood of a government shutdown this time around if Congress and President Obama are not