Congressman Mike Michaud voted against a four-year reauthorization of
the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which passed the full House
of Representatives by a vote of 248-169 this morning. The bill included
controversial provisions to make it tougher for workers to form unions.
The most recent long-term FAA reauthorization bill expired September 30,
2007. Since then, Congress has passed a series of short-term extensions
of FAA's authority.
"Although there are a lot of good things in
this bill, it is still another example of political gamesmanship in
Washington, D.C.," said Michaud. "I was particularly pleased with our
efforts to restore the Essential Air Service (EAS) program, but I cannot
support the inclusion of partisan provisions to undermine hard-fought
workers' rights in a bill that is supposed to be focused on improving
safety and rebuilding our infrastructure."
H.R. 658, the FAA Air
Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act, authorizes
$63.4 billion in investment in federal aviation programs through 2015.
It addition to maintaining the Essential Air Service program, the bill
guarantees funding for airports to carry out new projects and
accelerates development of the modernized air traffic control system,
both of which are critical to enhancing national aviation safety.
The
EAS program provides subsidies to air carriers for providing service
between selected small communities and hub airports. The program was
originally established in 1978 as part of airline deregulation to ensure
a minimum level of air service to smaller communities that might
otherwise lose service because of economic factors. In February, Michaud
sent a letter to his colleagues on the House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee urging them to support the EAS program.
The
bill also includes changes to the Railway Labor Act that will increase,
from 35 percent to 50 percent, the percentage of employees in a
particular group who must show interest in a having an election if they
are not already represented by a union. This provision, a major rewrite
of labor law, statutorily defines union election requirements for the
first time in 75 years.
"The Republican leadership held a
long-term FAA extension hostage until they could achieve their
election-driven, partisan goal of undermining unions," said Rep.
Michaud. "I am sick and tired of critical pieces of legislation being
used as vehicles by either party to achieve purely partisan objectives.
Congress can and must do better."
John P. Graham, Jr.
Deputy Chief of Staff for Congressman Mike Michaud
