June 30, 2025
Dear Senator,
As the Senate considers amendments to the reconciliation bill, the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), urges you to vote YES on amendment #2609, offered by Senators Cantwell and Durbin, to hire additional Airway Transportation System Specialists at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Of the $3B already proposed for the purchase of radars, this amendment will dedicate $150M for the recruitment, hiring, and training of Airway Transportation Systems Specialists (ATSS). These specialists will be critical to overseeing, certifying, and maintaining new equipment installed with the $12.5B air traffic control modernization funding included in the overall bill.
As the nation’s largest transportation labor federation, representing 38 unions and millions of workers who build, operate, and maintain our nation’s transportation networks, safety is our top priority. We appreciate your commitment to investing in America’s aviation system, funding the critical air traffic control infrastructure and workforce that supports it, and ensuring that it remains the gold standard for aviation safety. The FAA is experiencing staffing shortages and rising demands to the system, making this investment critical. A fully staffed and skilled ATSS workforce is necessary to achieve the air traffic modernization goals in this bill.
Thank you for your consideration. Please don’t hesitate to contact LianneE@ttd.org if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Greg Regan, President
Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO