A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/793416
Security Act of 2016. In addition, the Report noted that the FAA must establish a process to effectively track controller applicants and develop timeframes to move applicants more efficiently through the hiring process. NATCA will continue advocating for a fully staff ed and well - trained workforce. LEGISLATIVE WATCHLIST In addition to executive actions from President Trump, Congress is already working on anti - federal employee bills. With Republicans officially i n control of the House, Senate, and White House, the number of proposals that would negatively impact federal employees will rise. GA staff has been and will continue preparing to fight these proposals. Paid Parental Leave (H.R. 1022; S. 362) Reps. Carol yn Maloney (D - NY) and Barbara Comstock (R - VA) reintroduced the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2017. This legislation would provide federal employees six weeks of paid leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a chil d. Senator Schatz introduced the same bill on the Senate side. NATCA supports this and has endorsed the legislation. FAIR Act (H.R. 757) Rep. Gerry Connolly (D - VA - 11) reintroduced the FAIR Act (H.R. 757). This legislation would prop ose a 3.2 percent pay raise in FY 2018 for all federal employees (whi ch includes a pay increase of 2 percent plus a locality pay adjustment of 1.2 percent for this coming year). NATCA supports this and has endorsed the legislation. Week of Feb. 18 - 24 CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE C ongress is in session during the week of Feb . 26 and will remain in session for six weeks until a break in April. As a reminder, Congress has a jam - packed schedule this year and it will be full of legislative activity. POTUS TO ADDRESS JOINT SESSION OF C ONGRESS On February 28, President Trump address ed a joint session of Congress, which include d the House, Senate, Cabinet members, and the Supreme Court. This often happens in lieu of a formal State of the Union after a new president takes office. During hi s address, Trump discuss ed his a genda for the next year and gave a sense of what he plans to prioritize. The topics include d immigration, healthcare, defense, transportation, tax reform, and a myriad of other issues. GA staff listened closely to see if any issu es that impact NATCA members were mentioned, such as infrastructure plans a nd federal employee proposals. FAA REAUTHORIZATION The current FAA Reauthorization is set to expire at the end of September this year. The House Transportation & Infrastructur e Committee has already begun to hold hearings on the topic, with the next hearing focusing on the state of America's airports on March 1. On Feb . 27, Sens. Jerry Moran (R - KS) and Amy Klobuchar (D - MN) sent a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine C hao requesting to start a formal dialogue among aviation stakeholders on aviation issues, including air traffic control reform, as Secretary Chao had suggested during confirmation hearing. GA staff is working closely with both