WASHINGTON – Greg Regan, President of the Transportation Trades Department (TTD) of the AFL-CIO, issued the following statement as Congress works to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA):
“As the largest transportation labor federation in the country, representing hundreds of thousands of aviation workers, we urge Congress to pass the current FAA Reauthorization Bill without any amendments. As negotiated, the bipartisan FAA bill will enhance existing safety standards, sustainably grow the aviation workforce, and facilitate improvements to infrastructure and service. Importantly, the current version of the bill also rejects any changes to the commercial pilot retirement age. The bill is too important to hamstring with amendments that would substantively alter the bill to the point of no return, resulting in another FAA extension that the country cannot afford. The time to act is now.
“In the transportation labor sector, all eyes are on Congress this week as the Friday deadline rapidly approaches. Dozens of labor unions and thousands of skilled transportation workers are watching to see if Congress does the right thing. America is the gold standard for aviation and this bill will ensure that we remain so by making necessary and long overdue investments in safety, funding, and staffing across the system. We urge Congress to swiftly pass the current version of the FAA Reauthorization Bill. Together, we can deliver a stronger, safer aviation industry for workers and the flying public.”
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