Following the 35-day government shutdown that wreaked havoc on the National Airspace System and aviation safety professionals, House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., and Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Rick Larsen, D-Wash. introduced H.R. 1108, the Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2019. The lead Republican on the legislation is Rep. Bob Gibbs of Ohio, a senior member of the House T&I Committee. This legislation would authorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to draw from the Airport & Airway Trust Fund (AATF) in the event of a government shutdown.

 

After careful review and consideration, NATCA decided to support the bill because it fully aligns with NATCA's policies, practices, and core principles. NATCA's National Legislative Committee (NLC), NATCA activists, and National Office Government Affairs Department staff have been aggressively working to encourage members of Congress to sign on as cosponsors to H.R. 1108. While the legislation faces hurdles and political challenges, especially among members and staff of the House and Senate Appropriations Committee, the bill has quickly garnered 124 bipartisan cosponsors in the short period of time since its introduction.

 

 

NATCA will keep you informed on all developments regarding these bills as the process continues.

Registration for NATCA in Washington 2019 continues through April 8. This event is a tremendous opportunity for our Union to spend time on Capitol Hill, educating our elected officials about the vital work we do.

 

Whether you are a veteran attendee or a first-timer, we are confident that you will learn something new, build great relationships, and help our Union make our collective voice heard on Capitol Hill.  

 

We know that getting leave is always a challenge. If you want to attend, but still trying to work out leave, we encourage you to register anyway. It is easier to drop a room from the room block than to add a room at the last minute.

 

It is our goal to have as many Congressional districts represented as possible at NATCA in Washington. First priority for attendance selection will be based on the Congressional districts in which registrants reside.

U.S. Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia hosted a roundtable event with federal workers who were being affected by the shutdown. After the event, Clarksburg ATCT (CKB) controllers were able to personally meet with and talk to Senator Manchin.

In the photo from left to right are CKB members  Rustin Cothern, Treasurer Adam Chafins, FacRep Jeffrey Haberland, Senator Manchin, OSHA Rep Forrest Deluca, Legislative Rep Timothy Krainak, and Christopher Dobinson. Not pictured but in attendance was Kevin Williams. 

Minnesota Congresswoman Angie Craig held a roundtable at Airlake Airport in Lakeville, Minn., with aviation safety officials and industry members to talk about safety and infrastructure needs. Minneapolis Center (ZMP) Legislative Rep Mitch Becker and ZMP member Dhruv Kalra represented NATCA. 

Becker said, "Private pilots, flight instructors, cargo pilots, corporate pilots, FAAMA (FAA Managers Association), and NATCA were in attendance. We spent about two hours discussing issues related to all aspects of aviation and gave the Congresswoman a better understanding of everything aviation."

In her weekly newsletter, she wrote about the event, "As a member of the Aviation Subcommittee on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I'm committed to listening to the concerns and experiences of stakeholders in the aviation industry, so that I can get to work on policies that will improve infrastructure and support our workers who keep our skies safe." 

Puerto Rico Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón recently  visited and received a tour of San Juan Tower (SJU) and CERAP (ZSU) from SJU FacRep Hector Montañez and ZSU FacRep Woody Camp. González-Colón recently was appointed to the Transportation and Infrastructure committee and is a cosponsor of H.R. 1108, Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2019. She has been assisting the facilities with the restoration of shore power to the long range radar site and Remote Communications Air/Ground (RCAG) on top of El Yunque National Forest, among other issues. 

"The visit to our facilities in Puerto Rico was a first for the Representative and a big eye opener for her to see how vital our operation is to the island," Camp said. "She told us that our facilities are the lifelines of Puerto Rico and Caribbean."

New Mexico Congresswoman Deb Haaland and her district staff recently visited Albuquerque Center (ZAB). They toured the facilities training department, the test and training lab, and the control room. They saw firsthand the important work NATCA members do 24/7, 365 days a year. Haaland is a cosponsor of H.R. 1108, Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2019. 

Pictured from left to right are ZAB members Travis Hatcher, Congresswoman Haaland, FacRep Daniel Watson, and Legislative Rep Derek Bray.