Newark ATCT Member Meets with U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell

On March 18, Joe DePinto (Newark ATCT, EWR) attended U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell’s (N.J.-9) St. Patrick’s Day Celebration in Patterson. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, New Jersey State Senator Paul Sarlo, and other locally-elected officials were also in attendance.

At the event, DePinto spoke with Rep. Pascrell’s Chief of Staff, Ben Rich, about the recently passed appropriations bill that will fund the FAA and several other departments and agencies through Sept. 30, 2024. Rich also expressed that he was looking forward to seeing our members during NATCA in Washington in May. When speaking to Rep. Pascrell, DePinto thanked him for his support of NATCA’s legislative priorities. The pair also discussed FAA Reauthorization. DePinto emphasized the need for a long-term solution that will allow the FAA to conduct maximum hiring of air traffic controllers through fiscal year 2028.