A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/663490
On April 5, 2016, NATCA requested a briefing on the Ground Bas ed Augmentation System (GBAS). This briefing is currently scheduled for April 12, 2016. NATCA POCs: Labor Relations Attorney Suzanne DeFelice an d Ray Adams. GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE: The House and Senate were on recess for Easter break. The Senate returned on April 4 and the House returns on April 12 t o resume legislative business. LONG - TERM FAA REAUTHORIZATION : As we reported last week, a short - term extension (H.R. 4721) was approved to extend aviation programs and excise taxes through July 15, 2016 in order to avoid any shutdown at the FAA before the March 31 deadline. The extension will give both chambers time to dec ide how to move forward with a long - term FAA reauthorization bill. The Senate Commerce Committee approved its version of a long - term FAA reauthorization bill (S.2658) on March 16 with a goal of bringing it to the Senate floor for consideration sometime dur ing the first two weeks in April. The Senate is expected to start procedural motions on the bill on Monday, April 4, and will attempt to have a final floor vote on the bill within the following two weeks. Meanwhile, House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R - PA) continues to advocate on behalf of his bill in the House (H.R. 4441). Senate Bill : The Senate's version of a long - term FAA bill, titled the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2016 (S. 2658), would reauthorize the FAA fo r eighteen months. The bill does not include an air traffic control not - for - profit proposal as the House version proposes. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune (R - SD) and Ranking Member Bill Nelson (D - FL) hope to bring the bill to up for considera tion in the Senate in April before lawmakers head into the busy appropriations season. NATCA staff has remained in close contact with Senators Thune, Nelson and their staffs about the details of the legislation to ensure our concerns are addressed. NATCA w as successful in adding controller hiring language that would make necessary improvements in the hiring process at the FAA. The bill cont inues to be a work - in - progress. House Bill : Despite opposition to the plan, Chairman Shuster continues to educate membe rs of Congress about his proposal and address their concerns, in hopes of generating enough support for H.R. 4441 to be considered on the House floor. We are also working with House T&I committee staff to address any issues with the Senate legislation if t hat version were to be considered in the House. Background : We have made clear that we will consider any and all reform proposals so long as they do not maintain the status quo at the FAA or result in a for - profit system. That is why we support the House bill, H.R. 4441 – it offers a solution to the stop - and - go f unding that has hampered the Agency continually, and we continue to look for a solution that is consistent with all of our organization's policies, practices, and principles while also protecting our members and the unionized workforce. Click here to view NATCA's press release and here to view the message sent to NATCA membership from t he National Executive Board. Click to read Paul's testimony before the House T&I Committee, which approved the legislation. NATCA continues to push f or reform to end the stop - and - go funding uncertainty, which has been problematic for the workforce and the NAS for far too long.