Watch Live: President Santa to Testify on Capitol Hill at 10 a.m. ET Don’t forget to tune in at 10 a.m. ET to watch NATCA President Rich Santa testify before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee […]
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National Office Departmental Updates
President Santa to Testify Before the U.S. House Aviation Subcommittee
Tomorrow at 10 am. ET, NATCA President Rich Santa will testify before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Aviation Subcommittee. Members can find details about the hearing, and a link to the […]
U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell Tours Oakland Center
U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (Calif.-14th) recently visited Oakland Center (ZOA), which is located in his district. After taking a tour of the operation, Swalwell sat down with several NATCA members who live in his district, including […]
U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean Tours Jacksonville Center
U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean (Fla., 4th) toured Jacksonville Center (ZJX) on Aug. 1, accompanied by his District Director Bryan Campbell and several of his constituents including American Airlines pilot Ken Byrns. The visit was facilitated by […]
U.S. Rep. Ken Buck Staff Tour Denver ATCT
Denver ATCT (DEN) member Zac Ploch facilitated a tour recently for the U.S. Rep. Ken Buck (Colo., 4th)’s Chief of Staff Zach Mendelovici and Buck’s Director of Scheduling Lucy Herrington. During the visit, the staff members […]
U.S. Rep. David Kustoff Tours Memphis Facilities
Memphis Center (ZME) Legislative Rep. Jenna Lisi led U.S. Rep. David Kustoff (Tenn., 8th) and several members of his staff for tours of Memphis, Tenn., air traffic facilities: ZME, Memphis TRACON (M03), and Memphis ATCT (MEM). […]
Sen. Mitch McConnell Staff Visit Lexington ATCT
Staff members of Senator Mitch McConnel (Ky.) — Legislative Assistant Andrew Fisher and Legislative Correspondent Garret Edmonds — recently toured Lexington ATCT (LEX) and airport in June, with LEX FacRep Jacob Elmer facilitating the air traffic […]
U.S. Rep. Mike Collins Visits Atlanta TRACON
U.S. Rep. Mike Collins (Ga.,10th) visited Atlanta TRACON (A80) on June 28 for a tour facilitated by A80 Legislative Rep. Jefferson Bishop, accompanied by his District Manager Greg Ziesenhene and other members of his staff. The […]
U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton Labor Roundtable
Deer Valley ATCT (DVT) FacRep and DVT Legislative Rep. Alyssa Martinez represented our profession and Union at U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton (Ariz.,4th)’s Labor Advisory Board Roundtable in June, in Phoenix. During the discussion, Rep. Stanton mentioned […]
U.S. Rep. Nathaniel Moran Tours Longview ATCT
NATCA Texas Legislative Coordinator Melissa Potter (Dallas-Fort Worth TRACON, D10) recently facilitated a tour for U.S. Rep. Nathaniel Moran (Texas,1st) of Longview ATCT and approach control facility (GGG). Rep. Moran learned about GGG’s operations being worked […]
U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger Visits Potomac TRACON (PCT)
U.S. Representative for Virginia’s 7th District Abigail Spanberger visited Potomac TRACON (PCT) on Aug. 14. PCT FacRep Amy Lark and National Legislative Committee Virginia State Coordinator Brian Schmelzel helped facilitate the visit. Spanberger asked many questions […]
Nassar Joins NATCA as Director of Government Affairs
Nassar Brings More Than 20 Years of Experience to Air Traffic Controllers Union (WASHINGTON) – The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, AFL-CIO (NATCA) announced today the appointment of Josh Nassar as its new Director of Government […]
Government Affairs Update: News About Continuing Resolution
Congress is currently negotiating the details of a Continuing Resolution (CR), which would continue funding the Federal government until mid-December, along with other funding priorities such as military assistance for Ukraine and disaster relief funds for […]
NATCA Supported Legislation Passes Unanimously in U.S. House of Representatives
In July, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 521, the First Responder Fair Return for Employees on Their Initial Retirement Earned Act (“First Responder Fair RETIRE Act”). If passed in the Senate and signed […]
NATCA Signs On To Letters to Congress in Solidarity with Aviation Unions
NATCA recently signed on to two letters that were sent to Congress in solidarity with other aviation labor unions. The first letter, which was sent to all members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. […]
NATCA Government Affairs Team Meets with Speaker Pelosi
NATCA’s Government Affairs team members Sean Maxwell and Annika Olson had the opportunity to meet with the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, at an event on Capitol Hill in late June. NATCA […]
House Passes Advanced Air Mobility Bills; Includes NATCA Input
This week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a version of the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Coordination and Leadership Act (H.R. 1339/S. 516) and the Advanced Aviation Infrastructure Modernization Act (H.R. 6270). These two bills seek […]
GA Update: Second Session of 117th Congress Convenes and Review of 2021
The second session of the 117th Congress convened last week in Washington, D.C. Last year, Congress passed or considered several bills that directly affect NATCA members. Most notably, the bipartisan infrastructure bill was signed into law. […]
Congress Raises Debt Limit, Avoids Default
Last week, Congress voted to approve an increase in the federal debt borrowing limit by $2.5 trillion, an amount that Democratic leadership says will allow the government to pay its bills until early 2023. The votes in […]
CONTRACT Act Update – Markup in Senate Committee Nov 3
On Wednesday morning, Nov. 3, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs is scheduled to mark up S. 419, the Continuity for Operators with Necessary Training Required for ATC Contract Towers Act of 2021 […]
Senate Appropriations Committee Unveils Draft Funding Bills
On Oct. 18, the Senate Appropriations Committee unveiled several draft appropriations bills for the 2022 fiscal year, including the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) bill that allocates funding for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The […]
Sept. 30 Funding Deadline and Debt Ceiling Debate Looming
Government funding is set to expire on Sept. 30. Meanwhile, the Senate is on its annual August recess until Sept. 13, and the House came back from recess on Aug. 23. Adding to the mix of uncertainty […]
Annual Budget Resolution Triggers Another “Vote-a-Rama” in Senate
Shortly after passing the infrastructure bill, the Senate passed on a party line vote an annual budget resolution, which acts as a framework so that House and Senate committees can assemble a large “reconciliation” package of […]
Senate Passes Bipartisan Infrastructure Package, Includes $5 Billion for ATC Improvements
The U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan infrastructure package by a vote of 69-30 on Aug. 10. Also called the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), this critical legislation includes $5 billion for various air traffic control […]
Upcoming Special Elections
NATCA encourages all members and their families to participate in the democratic process. NATCA’s Member Voter Center is a year-round resource to find links on how to register to vote and continuous information about upcoming special elections. Below are the […]
Federal Employee Pay Raise Update
This week, the House is considering a minibus spending package that includes the House version of the FY 2022 Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) appropriations bill. This year, the legislation stays silent on an annual […]
H.R. 1108 Successor Bill Introduced
In the House, Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Rick Larsen, D-Wash., and T&I Committee members Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., and Bob Gibbs, R-Ohio, recently introduced H.R. 4042, the Aviation Funding […]
NATCA Secures Key Changes to Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Legislation
On Wednesday, July 28, the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee approved bipartisan legislation, the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act, introduced by Reps. Sharice Davids, D-Kan., and Garret Graves, R-La. The bill would establish a federal […]
House Considers Appropriations Minibus, Anti-Labor Amendments Defeated
The House has been working to advance its version of the 12 annual appropriations bills, and this week the first spending bill package is on the House floor. That package, known as a “minibus,” combines several […]
NATCA Advocates for Air Traffic Control Facility Improvements
President Biden and a group of bipartisan senators are attempting to reach agreement on a major infrastructure funding package. Negotiations have stalled over issues like transit funding and how to pay for the package, but Senate […]
House Passes NOTAM Legislation with NATCA Amendment
On Tuesday, June 15, the House passed H.R. 1262, bipartisan legislation that would, if enacted, establish an FAA task force to determine improvements to the Notice to Airmen (NOTAMs) system, which provides critical information to pilots […]
NATCA Signs Letter Supporting 3.2% Pay Raise for Feds
The Federal-Postal Coalition sent a letter to House and Senate appropriators urging them to include a 3.2% pay raise for federal employees (2.2% across the board plus a 1% average locality pay) in the FY 22 […]
NATCA Activists Build Bipartisan Co-sponsor List for CONTRACT Act
NATCA’s field activists have been contacting members of Congress in the House and Senate to encourage co-sponsors on S. 419/H.R. 1283, the Continuity for Operators with Necessary Training Required for ATC Contract Towers (CONTRACT) Act of […]
President’s Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Shows Strong Support for FAA
In May, President Biden released his full budget proposal for fiscal year 2022 (FY 22), following release of the administration’s “skinny budget” back in April. The president’s FY 22 budget supports strong funding for the FAA […]
NATCA Advocates for Infrastructure Priorities
As Congress crafts infrastructure legislation, NATCA has been advocating for urgent air traffic control facility upgrades to ensure the continued safety of the National Airspace System. NATCA is strongly advocating for a robust funding authorization to bring […]
NATCA Supports H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act
Reps. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., and Rodney Davis, R-Ill., have introduced H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, bipartisan legislation that would eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset, two titles of the […]
Appropriations Subcommittee Holds Hearing on FAA Safety Oversight
The House Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development held a hearing on May 12 to examine “Federal Aviation Administration Safety Oversight.” The sole witness was FAA Administrator Steve Dickson, whose testimony covered a range […]
Fiscal Year 2022 Budget and Appropriations Process Begins
In April, President Biden released a preview of his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2022, known as a “skinny budget.” He is expected to release the full budget proposal as early as the end of May, […]
NATCA Advocates for Infrastructure Priorities
Earlier this spring, President Biden introduced an infrastructure proposal titled the “American Jobs Plan,” a $2.5 trillion proposal that calls on Congress to invest $25 billion in our nation’s airports, including funding to upgrade Federal Aviation […]
Rinaldi Tells Congressional Roundtable FAA Infrastructure Needs Attention
NATCA President Paul Rinaldi participated in the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure Aviation Subcommittee roundtable on May 18 titled, “Final Approach: An Update on ATC Modernization.” The event focused on the implementation of the Next […]
NATCA Requests Biden Administration to Restore Quorum to the MSPB
On March 23, NATCA signed onto a letter from the Federal-Postal Coalition to the Office of Presidential Personnel that requests the Biden administration take urgent action to restore a quorum to the Merit Systems Protection Board […]
Women of the Aviation Workforce Week
Sens. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., and Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., introduced a resolution that designated the week of March 8 as “Women of the Aviation Workforce Week.” This resolution honored women in the aviation workforce and highlighted the […]
NATCA Supports Proposed 3.2% Pay Raise for Feds
House Representative Gerry Connolly, D-Va., and Senator Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, recently introduced the FAIR Act in the House and Senate (H.R. 392; S. 561). If enacted, the FAIR Act would provide a 3.2% pay raise for federal […]
President Biden Introduces $2.5 Trillion Infrastructure Proposal
President Biden introduced a proposal titled the “American Jobs Plan,” a $2.5 trillion infrastructure proposal that is the administration’s latest policy priority. Relevant to NATCA, this proposal calls on Congress to invest $25 billion in our […]
COVID Relief Package Enacted into Law
On March 11, President Biden signed into law a $1.9 trillion COVID relief package titled the “American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.” To understand how this law impacts NATCA and our membership, click here to view our recent […]
House Transportation & Infrastructure Hearing on U.S. Aviation
The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee held a hearing on March 2 titled, “COVID-19’s Effects on U.S. Aviation and the Flight Path to Recovery.” Government Affairs attended this hearing virtually. The hearing explored how COVID-19 has […]
Pete Buttigieg Confirmed as Secretary of Transportation
The Senate has the power to review and approve (or reject) presidential appointees to executive and judicial branch posts. As such, the Senate has been acting on President Biden’s nominees for key positions in the government, […]
COVID Relief Package Starts with “Vote-a-Rama”
Congress is working to advance President Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID relief proposal, which Democrats want to move quickly, so that the legislation is enacted before unemployment benefits expire on Mar. 14. To fast-track the legislation, congressional […]
NATCA Strongly Supports the CONTRACT Act
The Continuity for Operators with Necessary Training Required for ATC Contract Towers (CONTRACT) Act of 2021 would provide an incentive for retired federal controllers to continue working as controllers at the 256 airports that participate in […]
117th Congressional Committee Rosters
The 117th Congress convened on Jan. 3 and the Biden administration took office on Jan. 20. Democrats now control the House, Senate, and White House. The balance of power in the Senate is 50-50, with Vice […]
Government Affairs: Payroll Support Secured for Airline Workers
Throughout the duration of the coronavirus pandemic, NATCA has stood in solidarity with our aviation union sisters and brothers as thousands of furloughs and layoffs went into effect earlier this month in the absence of a […]
Government Affairs: 1% Pay Raise for Federal Employees Effective January 2021
On New Year’s Eve, the President issued an Executive Order (EO) adjusting the pay rates and pay bands for employees covered by the General Schedule (GS) and other statutory pay systems. The general increase is 1.0% […]
Government Affairs: FAA Funded Through Sept. 30, 2021
On Dec. 27, legislation was enacted into law to provide funding for the federal government through the end of the current fiscal year, Sept. 30, 2021. The funding bill, known as an “omnibus,” passed Congress on […]
Government Affairs: 12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave Enacted into Law for FAA Employees
The benefits of the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act, providing 12 weeks of paid parental leave, are now codified into law for employees at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The path to enactment was not easy. […]
Government Affairs: 117th Congress Convenes
The 117th Congress convened on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021. The House elected Representative Nancy Pelosi for what many believe will be her fourth and final term as Speaker of the House. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., will […]
Aircraft Certification Legislation Advances in Congress
NATCA represents FAA employees who are involved in the certification of aircraft. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are seeking changes to the safety culture at the FAA and the process that certifies aircraft following the Boeing 737 […]
Update on Paid Parental Leave for FAA Employees
NATCA’s Government Affairs staff continues to work to ensure that 12 weeks of paid parental leave for FAA employees is codified in law for both current and future FAA workforces. Specifically, NATCA is seeking a technical […]
COVID and Airline Worker Relief Remain Elusive
Despite lack of progress, both chambers of Congress and the White House continue to negotiate on a COVID relief package. Without a consensus on a broader package, several partisan, slimmed-down versions of aid packages have advanced […]
NATCA Secures Critical Funding for the Airport and Airway Trust Fund
NATCA was successful in obtaining a critical technical correction to address a shortfall in the Airport and Airway Trust Fund (AATF) in the continuing resolution. The technical correction, which NATCA aggressively advocated for, transfers $14 billion […]
New Government Funding Deadline: Dec. 11, 2020
A short-term continuing resolution (CR) was enacted at the end of September to avoid a government shutdown on Oct. 1. The CR funds the government through Dec. 11, at which point another government funding bill will […]
Congressional Schedule
The House and Senate are now in recess until after the elections. The Senate remained in session longer than anticipated to advance the U.S. Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett. In the unlikely event that a vote […]
House Passes Transportation Spending Bill, CR Expected
A government funding bill must be passed by the end of September in order to avoid a government shutdown on Oct. 1. The House passed a spending package at the end of July that included six […]
Paid Parental Leave for FAA Employees Advances
NATCA continues to aggressively seek a technical correction to fix the loophole that inadvertently excluded FAA employees and five other federal employee workforces from the 12-week paid parental leave proposal enacted last December as part of […]
Congress and the White House Fail to Reach a Deal on COVID-19 Relief Bill
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, NATCA has been seeking protections for essential aviation workers. Leading up to the August recess, congressional leadership and the White House had been negotiating a new COVID-19 relief bill. […]
Paid Parental Leave for FAA Employees Advances in the House
The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) passed its version of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA; H.R. 6395) on July 1 by a bipartisan vote of 56-0. This legislation now heads to […]
House Passes $1.5 Trillion Infrastructure, Includes ATC Facility Maintenance
The House passed a $1.5 trillion infrastructure bill (H.R. 2) that, in addition to surface transportation provisions, includes sections on aviation, broadband, water and energy, housing, and schools. Significant to NATCA, the House-passed infrastructure bill proposes […]
UPDATE: H.R. 1108, the Aviation Funding Stability Act
NATCA’s Government Affairs staff is working with House leadership and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee staff to ensure the Aviation Funding Stability Act (H.R. 1108) comes to the House floor for a vote. NATCA’s field […]
Congress Debates Air Travel in the COVID-19 Era
As air travel ramps up to meet a modest yet increased demand during the pandemic, Congress has been debating health and safety policies for the aviation industry. NATCA’s Government Affairs staff members have been tuning in […]
Congress Adapts to its New ‘Normal’
The uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has required Congress to develop new and innovative ways of conducting business. The House has adopted rules that allow virtual committee work, including hearings and markups, as well […]
Advocating for Paid Parental Leave for FAA Employees
On May 13, NATCA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to provide 12 weeks of paid parental leave for qualifying events occurring on or after Oct. 1, 2020. This benefit covers all members […]
Senate Commerce Committee Considers Legislation to Protect NATCA Workforce
The Senate Commerce Committee held a markup on May 20 during which legislation was considered that would, if enacted, offer protections to the workforce NATCA represents. NATCA worked closely with Committee members and staff to ensure […]
NATCA Seeks Relief for Workforce During COVID-19 Pandemic
Senior leadership from NATCA and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) continue to collaborate frequently on ways to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on the National Airspace System (NAS). Each day, NATCA is fighting for the health […]
H.R. 1108/S. 762 Aviation Funding Stability Act
The Aviation Funding Stability Act (H.R. 1108/S. 762) was introduced following the 35-day government shutdown that wreaked havoc on the National Airspace System (NAS) and our workforce. If enacted, this legislation would ensure that the aviation system […]
Advocating for Paid Parental Leave for FAA Employees
NATCA continues to aggressively advocate for a technical correction to fix the loophole that inadvertently excluded FAA employees and five other federal employee workforces in the paid parental leave proposal enacted in December as part of […]
Keeping the Airport and Airway Trust Fund (AATF) Robust
The “aviation tax holiday,” which was enacted into law as part of H.R. 748, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“The CARES Act”), along with the reduced demand for airline tickets and jet fuel prior to […]
NATCA Seeks Relief for Workforce During COVID-19 Pandemic
Since the COVID-19 national emergency began, senior leadership from NATCA and the FAA speak multiple times on a daily basis to collaborate on ways to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on the National Airspace System […]
Congressional Schedule
Due to the COVID-19 national emergency, Congress has been out of session with the exception of “pro forma” sessions and emergency sessions to vote on stimulus packages relating to the pandemic. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell indicated that the […]
NATCA in Washington 2020
Due to the COVID-19 national emergency, NATCA in Washington has been rescheduled for Dec. 9-11, 2020. The location remains at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C. We are preparing for another successful event where our top-notch activists […]
NATCA IN WASHINGTON (NiW) 2020
NATCA in Washington will take place March 23-25, and NATCA National Office staff is busy at work preparing for another successful event where our top-notch activists will spend time on Capitol Hill, advocating on behalf of […]
LEGISLATIVE WATCHLIST
NATCA GA staff continues to closely monitor any anti-federal employee legislation and all other actions that could impact the NATCA membership, including those that would attack federal employee pay and benefits. From the White House, President […]
H.R. 1108/S. 762 CONTINUE TO GAIN SUPPORT
H.R. 1108 has continued to gain support from both Democrats and Republicans and now has 277 co-sponsors. Co-sponsors can continue to be added to H.R. 1108 until the T&I Committee files an official “Committee Report,” which […]
SUPPORTING PAID PARENTAL LEAVE
NATCA has been working on a technical correction to fix the loophole that inadvertently excluded FAA employees and five other federal employee workforces in the paid parental leave proposal enacted in December. We’ve been working with […]
INFRASTRUCTURE LEGISLATION INTRODUCED
On Jan. 29, House Democrats introduced a $760 billion, five-year infrastructure package, which outlines major investments in highways, rail, transit, airports, wastewater, water infrastructure, ports, and harbors. The Democratic package also includes an aggressive plan to […]
CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE
The House and Senate returned to Washington for legislative session on Jan. 27.
NATCA Government Affairs Department Update
Paid Parental Leave Last year, there was a loophole within the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act that was signed into law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Specifically, the leave provisions, which were […]
PAID PARENTAL LEAVE
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA) contains a new title called the “Federal Employee Paid Leave Act.” This Act provides 12 weeks of paid parental leave to parents of children born or […]
FEDERAL EMPLOYEE PAY RAISE
Congress has passed and the President has signed a pay raise for federal employees to be implemented in 2020. For FY 2020, the House proposed and passed a Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) appropriations bill […]
NATCA URGING CO-SPONSORS ON H.R. 1108/S.762
NATCA continues to advocate and encourage co-sponsorship of H.R. 1108 and S. 762, the Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2019. As a reminder, both pieces of legislation are identical and would authorize the FAA to draw […]
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AVOIDED – BUDGET PASSED THROUGH FY 2020
The House and Senate passed, and the President signed, a budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020. Funding for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the rest of the federal government has now been approved through Sept. […]
Congressional Schedule: December 2019
The House and Senate returned to session on Jan. 6. Lawmakers avoided a government shutdown by passing a budget for Fiscal Year 2020.
