ATU Action Weekly Update - 11/26/07

Bush Set to Veto Transit Funding Bill

Members of Congress have reached an agreement in principle on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Transportation Appropriations bill.  The House passed the measure on November 14, and the Senate could act on the bill as early as next week.  However, President Bush has said that he will veto the legislation due to its cost.  The bill would provide $9.68 billion for public transportation programs in FY 2008, a 7.8 percent increase over the level enacted in FY 2007.

The House vote was 270-147, eight votes short of a two-thirds majority needed to override a presidential veto.  Members of the House and Senate are considering whether to combine the transportation bill with other critical funding measures in an effort to force Bush to sign the legislation.

 

House Members Join ATU Call for Security Training Guidelines

Twenty-nine members of the U.S. House sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff on November 13, asking for an update on the status of transit security training regulations which the agency failed to issue by the November 1 deadline set by Congress. 

The letter, initiated by Congressman Stephen Lynch (D-MA), was prompted by a statement issued by ATU International President Warren George on November 2.  In his statement, IP George called the DHS failure to release the required regulations "simply irresponsible."

In the letter issued by Lynch and his colleagues, the representatives expressed concern that the DHS failure will "unnecessarily postpone the long overdue implementation of worker security training programs at our nation's public transportation agencies."  The representatives further expressed alarm at DHS' failure to consult with transit labor organizations, including the ATU, in developing the regulations.

Along with Lynch, the following Members of Congress signed the letter: Albio Sires (D-NJ), James Moran (D-VA), Michael Capuano (D-MA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), Corrine Brown (D-FL), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Barney Frank (D-MA), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Michael Michaud (D-ME), Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), William Delahunt (D-MA), Robert Brady (D-PA), James McGovern (D-MA), Thomas Allen (D-ME), Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Betty Sutton (D-OH), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), Jason Altmire (D-PA), John Hall (D-NJ), Zachary Space (D-OH), Brian Higgins (D-NY), Bruce Braley (D-IA), and Janice Schakowsky (D-IL).

If your Member of Congress is listed above, please call them to thank them for their support!

 

ATU Urges Elimination of Duplicative ID Requirement

On November 19, the ATU called on Congress to eliminate costly and time consuming duplicative identification requirements that would affect certain bus operators who service U.S. ports. 

The duplicative requirement is the result of a new law that will require all port workers, and persons who require access to ports, to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).  While the law applies primarily to port employees, it would also affect up to 150 ATU members employed by Greyhound Lines (National Local 1700) who provide transportation to cruise ships in Florida.  In addition to obtaining a TWIC card under the new law, Florida law requires these employees to obtain a Florida Uniform Port Access Credential (FUPAC).

In a letter to Representatives Jim Oberstar (D-MN) and Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Chairmen of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Homeland Security Committee respectively, the ATU, along with the American Bus Association (ABA), argued that without preemption of the state law, "transportation workers will be required to file multiple applications, pay additional fees, endure repetitive background checks and wait for extended periods of time - all to replicate a security program mandated by the federal government."

The ATU is urging Congress to amend the pending Coast Guard Authorization legislation (H.R. 2820) to include some sort of preemption in order to address this problem.