A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/696483
POCs: Labor Relations Representative Melinda Kim and Labor Relations Coordinator Kendal Manson. June 15, 2016: NA TCA requested a briefing on PRISM Version 7.2. We are currently waiting for a response from the Agency regarding our request. P OCs: Labor Relations Attorney Suzanne DeFelice and Labor Relations Coordinator Kendal Manson. GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT C ONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE : Both the House and Senate are in session the week of June 20. The House will recess for the last week of June before coming back for its last two weeks of session before summer recess. The clock is ticking as Congress gets closer to its scheduled summer recess starting July 15. As a reminder, FAA authority expires on July 15 and we will need a reauthorization or extension to avoid a partial - shutdown at the Agency. NATCA PRESIDENT PAUL RINALDI TESTIFIES ON STAFFING CRISIS: NATCA Pres ident Paul Rinaldi testified before the House Transportation and Infrastructure's (T&I) Subcommittee on Aviation during a hearing titled "A Review of Federal Aviation Administration's Air Traffic Controller Hiring, Staffing, and Training Plans" on June 15. Rinaldi told subcommittee members that the number of fully certified air traffic controllers, already at a 27 - year low, fell again in the first three months of this year. He said that the situation has reached a crisis level and outlined several recommend ations, including increasing annual hiring totals and passage of bipartisan legislation, H.R. 5292, the Air Traffic Controller Hiring Improvement Act of 2016. H.R. 5292 PROCEEDS TO MARK - UP : Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member DeFazio support H.R. 5292 and the committee wants to move forward and approve the legislation. The committee plans to mark - up the legislation on Thursday, June 23. It is expected to pass out of the committee with no problem, and then come to the House floor for a vote under suspension of the rules sometime after members of Congress return from the Fourth of July recess. GA staff will keep you updated on the bill's progress. BACKGROUND : H.R. 5292 was introduced by Reps. Carlos Curbelo (R - FL - 26) and Sean Patrick Maloney (D - NY - 18) and wo uld improve the hiring of air traffic controllers by streamlining the process and ensuring a path for Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) students and military Veterans. So far, the bill has achieved broad, bipartisan support with over 165 cosponsors spli t almost evenly between Democrats and Republicans. Click here to view the more information about H.R. 5292, tit led "Air Traffic Controller Hiring Improvement Act of 2016." FAA DEADLINE LOOMING: Time is winding down for Congress to reauthorize authority for the FAA, which is due by July 15. It is clear that a short - term patch is on the horizon, and details will li kely be finalized this week and the timeline of any extension remains unclear at this time. Shuster and Ranking Member DeFazio have both agreed that they do not want to capitulate to the Senate bill. Meanwhile, Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation C ommittee Chairman John Thune continues to stress the need for a full, long - term FAA reauthorization bill instead of another short - term extension.