[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 72 (Thursday, June 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1072]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 AMENDING TITLE 49, UNITED STATES CODE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. ALLYSON Y. SCHWARTZ

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 6, 2006

  Ms. SCHWARTZ of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H.R. 5449, which would send the Federal Aviation Administration and the 
National Air Traffic Controllers Association back to the negotiating 
table to reach a fair resolution to their contract dispute.
  On April 5, 2005, the FAA declared an impasse in its contract talks 
with NATCA. The current process for resolving an impasse in contract 
talks between FAA and NATCA allows the FAA to unilaterally impose its 
contract upon the controllers if the agency sends the contract to 
Congress and there is no legislative intervention within 60-days. On 
June 5, the 60-day window ended and the FAA announced that it intended 
to begin implementing its last contract offer.
  Not only is this process unfair, but it creates a level of distrust 
between the two parties responsible for ensuring a safe and efficient 
air traffic control system. Congress should not be in the business of 
negotiating contract disputes. Instead, we should help ensure an 
equitable resolution to this situation by sending both parties back to 
the negotiating table and H.R. 5449 does just this.
  Mr. Speaker, our nation's dedicated, highly-skilled air traffic 
controllers are on the front lines of ensuring safety for the millions 
of Americans who fly each year. Under the unfavorable terms of the 
FAA's last offer, many of them would have an incentive to quickly 
retire. Such a retirement exodus would have serious safety implications 
for the flying public. It is imperative that Congress acts now and 
sends the two parties back to the negotiating table.

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