[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 71 (Wednesday, June 7, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1035]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 AMENDING TITLE 49, UNITED STATES CODE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. JOE BACA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 6, 2006

  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5449.
  This bill, sponsored by Representative LaTourette, will restore 
fairness and accountability to the FAA's negotiating process.
  It is time that Congress steps in to ensure that no serious damage is 
done to the integrity and safety of our aviation system. We must 
support the men and women who help keep our airways safe and on time.
  The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been trying to 
circumvent real negotiations and to unilaterally impose a contract on 
the air traffic controllers. Increasingly, they have refused to 
negotiate in good faith in an effort to create a false impasse.
  Congress must act! Earlier this week, the FAA moved to start 
implementing its unilateral changes to the terms and conditions of 
employment for our nation's air traffic controllers.
  The system is already facing a massive staffing crisis that could 
leave fewer and fewer qualified and trained controllers guiding record 
air traffic. More than 7,000 air traffic controllers are expected to 
retire over the next nine years. Air traffic controller staffing is 
critical. We will need 1,000 new air traffic controllers per year over 
the next five years to avert a staffing crisis. These conditions will 
lead to an erosion of talent at the agency because retirement-eligible 
controllers, the FAA's most experienced, would see the imposition as a 
reason to retire. This will in turn make recruiting replacement 
controllers of quality and excellence much more difficult. Possible 
delays due to staff shortages and inexperienced staff, as well as the 
closing of severely understaffed facilities could impose hundreds of 
millions of dollars in unnecessary costs for consumers and communities.
  H.R. 5449 would encourage the FAA and the National Air Traffic 
Controllers Association (NATCA) in the contract negotiations to reach 
an agreement and turn toward other important matters, including the 
future growth and safety of the U.S. air traffic system.
  This bill would allow for the existing sections of the law to be 
utilized to solve the contractual differences--the same way disputes 
are settled for other federal workers. It would allow for this and 
future disputes to be settled in a manner that ensures a fair hearing 
for both sides.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5449 and restore fairness to 
this negotiating process and keep America's airways flowing safely and 
professionally.

                          ____________________