It’s good to be back home after such a long week. I wanted to write a little about my experience at NATCA in Washington, and Drew also has some Convention announcements.
NATCA In Washington
This week I was able to go to NATCA in Washington for the first time. This was an eye-opening experience of the amount of work our legislative activists put into promoting our interests with our elected officials.
On the first day, the attendees were taught about "The Ask" and listened to some guest speakers. "The Ask" is a clear and unified message that NATCA communicates to all 535 elected officials in the House (435) and Senate (100) to ensure consistency. This year, the focus was on why a specific language related to staffing is crucial to be included in the FAA Reauthorization bill. This would ensure that the number used to staff facilities is the collaborative number agreed upon by FAA and NATCA rather than the arbitrary number that FAA finance uses to brief Congress annually.
The first guest speaker at the event was Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg. He has been touring air traffic facilities across the NAS to understand the challenges faced by individuals working in the industry and the buildings they work in. He highlighted changes he hopes to bring about through upcoming infrastructure bills during his speech. He has expressed support for modernization and improvement of airport infrastructure and for promoting sustainable transportation options. It was great to hear him speak in person.
We also had the pleasure of listening to Senator Tammy Duckworth. Tammy Duckworth is a former U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel currently serving as an Illinois Senator. She served as a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army and lost both her legs while on a mission in Iraq in 2004 when a rocket-propelled grenade shot down her helicopter. The actions of her quick-thinking crew ended up changing a recovery mission to a rescue mission, saving her life. After her military service, she became an advocate for veterans' rights and entered politics. She was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012 and later became a Senator in 2016. Senator Duckworth is known for her work on military and veterans' issues, as well as her support for women's and disability rights.
The second day was filled with back-to-back meetings organized by state coordinators with each elected official's staff since the House was in recess. During these meetings, participants explained "the ask" and answered any questions from the officials' staff, all while building meaningful relationships for future collaborations. Some attendees were able to meet with Senate members directly. We took some more meetings on the morning of the third day and then boarded a plane to come home.
NATCA in Washington plays a crucial role in the success of our union. While I previously believed that I understood its significance, I was mistaken - it is even more vital than I realized. I highly recommend that you consider attending the event next year, which is scheduled for May 1-3, 2024.
Convention Booklets are out!
By now, you should have received a package containing the proposed revisions to our National Constitution and Bylaws. Please take some time to review these documents and inform us of any questions you may have, as well as your preferences for voting. Amy and I will be serving as your representatives at the upcoming National Convention in June, and we want to ensure that we are accurately reflecting your interests. For your convenience, a PDF of the booklet is available HERE. We will also be discussing all of these at our next Local meeting on Monday, June 5. This meeting is crucial because this is where you tell us how you want us to vote on the proposed amendments at Convention.
Thank you,
Amy and Drew