Bring S1300 to the Senate floor and vote YES!!!

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee marked up the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Bill (S.1300) in May of 2007. There is a possibility that S.1300 will have a vote on the Senate floor sometime within the next few weeks.

S.1300 and the House companion bill (HR2881) are key to addressing the many needs of the National Airspace System (NAS). HR2881 overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives in September 2007. The users of the system need S1300 to pass the Senate so it can be reconciled with HR2881, then sent to the President for signature. Both FAA Reauthorization bills contain many provisions integral to our nation's aviation infrastructure, such as funding and modernization for the NAS. There are also provisions for fair collective bargaining, and a transparent process, that includes all stakeholders, which is urgently needed to guide the realignment of facilities and services within the FAA.

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Speak Out and Ask Your Senator to Vote "Yes" on FAA Reauthorization

Your Senators

Subject:

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

(Edit Letter Below)

As the Senate prepares to consider S1300 (FAA Reauthorization), the Aviation Investment and Modernization Act, I write to request that you support final passage of this important legislation and protect Section 313.  As an air traffic controller, aviation-safety professional and/or concerned flyer in your state, I also hope that you will oppose any efforts to strip or water down vital provisions designed to help stabilize the deteriorating FAA workforce.
 
During this time of economic decline, it is important to note that aviation industry employs over 9 million citizens and accounts for $600 billion annually to the United States economy. Roughly two-thirds of the world's aviation traffic moves through America's National Airspace System (NAS) - the safest and most efficient in the world - operated and maintained by the most professional workforce in the world.  Unfortunately, with unprecedented air traffic controller attrition contributing to increased runway incursions and record flight delays, aviation in America, and its invaluable contribution to our economy, is in jeopardy.
 
Section 313: Contract Dispute Resolution Fix

During contract negotiations with NATCA in 2006, the FAA chose to walk away from the bargaining table and instead imposed its will upon the air traffic controller workforce.  This has resulted in FAA employees leaving the controller ranks at an unprecedented rate of 6 per day.  The system has already experienced an increase in delays, runway incursions and errors due to a critically understaffed and inexperienced controller workforce.  Our nation's policy should be to provide more incentives to build up the rapidly-depleting FAA workforce.  Unfortunately, the work and pay rules unilaterally imposed by the FAA are having the exact opposite impact, creating a disincentive for new controllers that join the FAA ranks to stay on the job and leaving those eligible to retire a better annuity by leaving their profession.
 
Section 313 restores fairness to the collective bargaining process which will encourage veteran controllers and trainees to remain in the workforce.  Passage of Section 313 in its current state will go a long way towards stabilizing the FAA workforce and prevent further unnecessary degradation of our National Airspace System (NAS).

I Urge You, Senator, to Support FAA Reauthorization (S1300/HR2881).

It is more important than ever that we make the needed investments to stabilize the FAA workforce and upgrade our aging aviation infrastructure. With passenger levels in the United States expected to exceed 1 billion by 2015 and the Next Generation Air Traffic Control System (NextGen) not expected to come online until at least 2020, NOW is the time to pass a comprehensive FAA Reauthorization Bill!

Once again, as an air traffic controller/aviation-safety professional and/or concerned flyer and a constituent, I urge you to vote YES on final passage of FAA Reauthorization (S1300/HR2881), the Aviation Investment and Modernization Act.

America can't afford another delay!

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]

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