Federal Daily - May 27, 2009

House Approves FAA Reauthorization, Dispute-Resolution Process

The House last week approved—by a 277 to 136 margin—a $70 billion Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill that addresses longstanding traffic-controller staffing issues and establishes a process for resolving any future contract disputes. The bill, H.R. 915, now goes to the Senate. The bill authorizes an impartial, third-party scientific study of the air traffic controller staffing that will determine the proper level of funding for air traffic control facilities across the country. Labor groups have complained that the nation’s control towers are grossly understaffed. Also, H.R. 915 mandates a new dispute resolution process, patterned after Postal Service regulations, to make it clear that labor-management disputes between FAA and its organized employees are governed by a fair and impartial process, including binding arbitration. The dispute resolution process comes in response to an FAA declaration of an impasse with air traffic controllers in 2006, when it imposed its own set of work rules, said Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., bill author. “It is clear that FAA’s unilateral imposition of contract terms has had a harmful impact on the controller workforce, including major morale problems and an acceleration of retirements,” Oberstar said. The bill also creates a transparent process to review and evaluate FAA facility and service realignments; establishes workgroups, including employee representatives, to review and evaluate realignment proposals; and ensures that all FAA realignment initiatives are considered in a collaborative environment. National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Patrick Forrey praised the measure. “This bill is another sign of great progress as we try and modernize the system in a safe, smart, transparent and collaborative manner,” Forrey said. To see more, go to: www.natca.org/mediacenter/press-release-detail.aspx?id=609 or www.oberstar.house.gov.

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Bill Would Establish Expedited Check-Points for Military at Airports

Servicemembers traveling on official orders would not have to wait in long commercial airport check-in lines under a bill sponsored by Reps. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., and Dennis Moore, D-Kan. The bill, if it becomes law, would expedite commercial airport security clearance for members of the military traveling on official orders and their family members, Bachus said in a statement. The bill was accepted as an amendment for possible inclusion to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Authorization Act that will be brought to the House floor in June, Bachus said. The legislation directs TSA to establish an expedited screening process for members of the armed services. Servicemembers would have to be traveling on official orders and be in uniform. TSA also would create a more efficient screening procedure for heavy military gear.  Family members accompanying service personnel would be eligible for processing through the same expedited system, Bachus said. The expedited screening process would apply to all members of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, their respective reserve components, the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. To see more, go to: http://bachus.house.gov/index.php?option=com_
content&task=view&id=822&Itemid=104.

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Bill Would Forgive Some Servicemember Tuition Costs

A new bill introduced May 21 in the House would—if passed into law—forgive tuition costs for students called into military service midway through their school semester. Reps. Judy Biggert, R-Ill., and Ron Kind, D-Wis., introduced the measure, H.R. 2561, the Help Student Soldiers Act. The bill would require the Secretary of Education to forgive any federal student loan taken for the semester in which a student must withdraw from college due to a call to active duty, and therefore does not receive academic credit. Many schools forgive tuition for members of the military who are called, but others do not, forcing students to repeat semesters that they have already paid for at their own expense, lawmakers said. “Such a situation is not only unfair, it places additional pressure on these soldiers at a time when they are already facing extraordinary challenges,” said Biggert. To see more, go to: http://judybiggert.house.gov/Newsroom.aspx?FormMode=
Detail&ID=1012.

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