Sept. 8, 2017 // Legislative Meetings Recap
NATCA began its first rolling lobby week of September 2017 in Washington, D.C.
Twenty activists, including Toby Hauck (Chicago Center), Pete Dirks (Chicago Center), Billy Kisseadoo (Miami ATCT), Mike Weekley (Columbus ATCT), Rory Lieb (Milwaukee/Mitchell ATCT), Anthony Schifano (Charlotte Douglas ATCT), John Bratcher (Fort Smith ATCT), Jim Marinitti (Southern Regional Vice President), Ray Adams (Newark ATCT), David Skarphol (Phoenix TRACON), Jamaal Teel (Washington Dulles ATCT), and Louis Caggiano (Newark ATCT) were called to Washington, D.C., to lend their legislative expertise to this week’s Congressional visits on Capitol Hill.
Prior to hitting Capitol Hill, National Legislative Committee Chairman Steve Weidner, and Jose Ceballos, John Bressler, Allie Valocchi Cloyes, and Michelle Fevola of NATCA’s Government Affairs Staff led a briefing in NATCA National Office to prepare the visiting activists for their Congressional visits.
The activists and NATCA’s Government Affairs staff attended 131 meetings with members of both the House and Senate from Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Activists discussed the ongoing FAA staffing crisis, including the 28-year low of certified professional controllers (CPC). Nearly 30 percent of the CPC workforce is eligible to retire. They also discussed the adverse effects that suggested changes to federal employee retirements (being discussed in the U.S. House of Representatives as part of the FY18 federal budget negotiations) can have on those who keep the National Airspace System running.
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| Dirks, Congressman Bill Foster, D-Ill.-11, and Hauck.
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| Dirks, Congressman Randy Hultgren, R-Ill.-14, and Hauck.
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| Dirks, Congressman Darin LaHood, R-Ill.-18, and Hauck.
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| Hauck, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill.-8, and Dirks.
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| Hauck, Congressman Dan Lipinski, D-Ill.-3, and Dirks.
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| Hauck, Congressman John Shimkus, R-Ill.-15, and Dirks.
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| Hauck, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, D-Ill.-17, and Dirks.
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Republican Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who represents the 27th District in Florida, tweeted photos from her meeting with Marinitti and Kisseadoo, saying it was a joy to see them. Read the post here.
Indiana State Coordinator Mike Orr and Indianapolis Center Member Travis Stamper met with Republican Congresswoman Susan Brooks, who represents the 5th District in Indiana, last week.
The pair were able to speak with Representative Brooks and her Chief of Staff, Megan Savage, as well as her transportation aide, Rob Hicks. Hicks recently went on a tour of Washington National Airport.
They discussed the ongoing FAA staffing crisis, including the 28-year low of certified professional controllers (CPC). Nearly 30 percent of the CPC workforce is eligible to retire. They also discussed the adverse effects that potential changes to federal employee retirements (being discussed in the U.S. House of Representatives as part of the FY18 federal budget negotiations) can have on those who keep the National Airspace System running.
While at the event, Orr and Stamper were also able to speak with Senator Todd Young, who represents Indiana, and Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb.
Salt Lake City ATCT Legislative Rep Chris Bakke and Salt Lake Center FacRep Joel Brown met with Republican Congressman Chris Stewart, who represents the 2nd District in Utah, at his local office.
They discussed the adverse effects that suggested changes to federal employee retirements (being discussed in the U.S. House of Representatives as part of the FY18 federal budget negotiations) can have on those who keep the National Airspace System running.
