A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/690675
POCs: Senior Labor Relations Attorney Chris Gant, Labor Relations Attorney Damien Mare e, and Labor Rela tions Coordinator Kendal Manson. On June 1, 2016 , NATCA requested a briefing on FAA Order 4665.4A, FAA Administrative and Technical Space Standards. We are currently waiting for a response from the Agency regarding our request. POCs: Assi stant Director of Labor Relations Nicole Vitale and Labor Relations Coordinator Kendal Manson . GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE : Both the House and Senate were in recess the week of May 30 for Memorial Day and return to D.C. the week of June 6. There are under 20 legislative days left in Congress before the summer recess. NATCA CONTINUES TO EDUCATE CONGRESS ABOUT STAFFING CRISIS : During NATCA's annual lobby week, "NATCA in Washington," from May 23 - 25, NATCAvists traveled to Capitol Hill to discuss the current staffing crisis with Members of Congress and seek cosponsors on H.R. 5292. This legislation was introduced by Reps. Carlos Curbelo (R - FL - 26) and Sean Patrick Maloney (D - NY - 18) and would improve the hiring of air traffic controll ers by streamlining the process and ensuring a path for Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) students and military Veterans. Click here to view the more information about the bill, titled "Air Traffic Controller Hiring Improvement Act of 2016." Upcoming Staffing Hearing : The House Transportation and Infrastructure's Subcommittee on Aviation will hold a hearing, "A Review of the FAA's Air Traffic Controller Hiring, Staffing, and Training Plans," on June 15 at 10 a.m. EDT. The hearing will focus on hiring and staffing concerns at the FAA, and NATCA President Paul Rinaldi will testify. Staffing Crisis Background : Air traffic controller staffing at the FAA has been a concern for years, but it has now reached a crisis level. The NAS has reached a 27 - year low for staffing of Certified Professional Controllers (CPCs). Meanwhile, the FAA has missed its hiring goals in each of the last seven years. With one quarter of the workforce eligible to retire and not enough controllers in the pipeline to replace them, the staffing crisis poses an immediate challenge to our workforce and is currently NATCA's priority. ANOTHER FAA EX TENSION ON THE HORIZON : It is becoming clear that another short - term extension of the current FAA reauthorization is the most likely outcome before the July 15 deadline. T&I Committee Chairman Bill Shuster has made it clear that he does not want to abandon his plan (H.R. 4441; the AIRR Act), which NATCA supports. The Chairman has had trouble rallying support for his proposal, which includes air traffic control reform. Meanwhile, Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Chairman John Thune has c ontinued to stress the need for a full, long - term FAA reauthorization bill instead of another short - term extension. As a reminder, the Senate passed H.R. 636 earlier in April, which would reauthorize the FAA through FY17. Background : A short - term extension (H.R. 4721) is currently in place to extend aviation programs and excise taxes through July 15. In April, the Senate passed its version of long - term FAA reauthorization legislation, which would only reauthorize the FAA through Fiscal Year 2017. In the Hou se, the T&I Committee approved H.R. 4441 back in February, which includes air traffic control reform, but that legislation has yet to