LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE!Testimony at House Hearing:
On Wednesday, May 20th, Pat Friend will be testifying at a hearing of the House Aviation Subcommittee at 2 p.m. The hearing is titled "Consumer issues: Emergency Contingency Planning and Outlook for Summer Travel". Pat will focus on the problems experienced during the H1N1 crisis and our serious concerns with a Passenger Bill of Rights and the need for temperature standards onboard the aircraft.
FAA Reauthorization
House:
The House Transportation Committee passed out its version of the FAA Reauthorization bill. We expect final passage of the bill off the House floor this week. The bill is very good for us and includes a number of very important provisions. Here are the issues included:
1) Cell phone ban. Congressman DeFazio's ban on the use of cell phones or voice over internet onboard flights in operation is included. It has become slightly controversial as the cell phone industry is fighting the ban.
2) Fatigue study
3) OSHA workplace safety and health protections
4) Notification of pesticide application on flights
5) Cabin Air Quality provisions to begin development of air quality sensors and filtration
6) HIMS program expansion to cover flight attendants
7) Temperature standards for aircraft
8) Further definition of provisions restricting foreign control of US Airlines
9) Anti-trust review for airline alliances every three years
Senate:
Last week, Bill McGlashen, Executive Assistant to the International President, testified for AFA-CWA at a hearing of the Aviation Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce Committee on our priorities for the Senate version of the FAA Reauthorization. The Commerce Committee staff are working diligently this week and next to have a bill for introduction shortly after the Memorial Day recess. I am working with the staff to include as many of our priorities as possible in the base bill that will be introduced.
Security Training - TSA Authorization
The House Homeland Security Committee has been working for the last month on advancing a bill Authorization the TSA. I have spent the majority of my time the last month working with the Committee and our friends in Congress to ensure that our longstanding issue of mandatory self defense, anti-terrorism training was included in the legislation. After a long and grueling bill drafting process, including a vote in the subcommittee and then a vote in the full Committee, the final bill includes very good language that would mandate hands-on, mandatory self defense training of not less than 5 hours be provided for all flight attendants every 2 years. We were facing stiff opposition from Airline management and the Republican staff.
In the end, the strong leadership of Chairwoman Sheila Jackson Lee and Bennie Thompson, as well as the passionate support of Republican Congresswoman Candice Miller of Michigan helped us prevail on this legislation. As well, because of our ability to have developed a strong relationship with Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA) through FlightPAC support of his Tuesday Group (the group of moderate House Republican of which he is the co-chair) allowed us to have numerous conversations with him. His support was crucial as he is the ranking member of the subcommittee with jurisdiction and his willingness to work with us helped override the opposition of the Republican staff of the Committee.
The final bill will also be on the House floor this week for final action. We expect the friends of the airlines to make an effort to demonize our security training and possibly even strip it out of the bill. We are working to avoid that fight and be prepared that our friends in the House are able to rally to our defense and speak on our behalf on the House floor.
This issue clearly demonstrates the importance of FlightPAC!!! It is only because of the support of FlightPAC that we have been able to develop such strong relationships with all the important members on this Committee, especially Charlie Dent. Fortunately, we were able to help them last year since FlightPAC is broke this year with the decline in membership and inability to increase the participation level of the membership.
Puchala NMB Nomination
We have no new update other than the fact that the Committee is trying to move her nomination to the floor as quickly as possible. There was a delay due to the incredibly full Committee schedule. We have heard that Linda has met with many Republican members and staff and they have all been impressed with her.
FMLA
I remain optimistic that we will see a bill introduced yet this week. Senator Enzi has agreed to not oppose the bill and he and Senator Murray's staff have been engaged in a discussion about introduction of the bill. Senator Enzi has asked for Senator Murray to engage in a discussion with him on the Senate floor when it is introduced to stress that this bill is unique and not meant to cover employees other than flight attendants and pilots. This is a positive development. Everyone should please be patient as this is how the Senate operates and the best way to get things done in the Senate.
Carry-on bag restrictions
We expect legislation to be introduced this week by Representative Dan Lipinski (D-IL) to limit the size and number of carry-on bags being brought on to the aircraft.
