WASHINGTON — Greg Regan and Shari Semelsberger, President and Secretary-Treasurer of the Transportation Trades Department (TTD) of the AFL-CIO, issued this statement after the House of Representatives passed, by a vote of 281-140, the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):
“As America’s largest transportation labor federation, we are pleased that this NDAA will support and strengthen existing transportation programs that are critical to our national defense, including the Maritime Security Program, Tanker Security Program, and Port Infrastructure Development Program. The Maritime Security Program guarantees that trained U.S. citizen mariners will be available in times of crisis or disaster and the Tanker Security Program supports a fleet of tanker vessels that are available to the Department of Defense during a conflict or national emergency.
“This bill also delivers for transportation workers by providing a 5.7% boost to railroad unemployment and sickness benefits. In 2013, rail workers were singled out by the Budget Control Act and subjected to sequestration of their unemployment and sickness insurance program benefits – despite the fact the railroad industry was the sole contributor to the program. By adopting language from the Railroad Employee Equity and Fairness (REEF) Act, the NDAA will end the 10-year wait for these benefits to be fully restored.
“We urge the Senate to pass this legislation and send it to President Biden’s desk.”
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As America’s largest transportation labor federation, the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) represents 37 labor unions and millions of workers across the country in maritime, aviation, rail, transit, manufacturing, and other industries.