October 12, 2011

The Legislative Affairs Team was in Washington all last week accompanied by F/O Officer Ken Binder acting in his capacity as a National R&I committee member. Ken along with F/O’s Aaron Hagan and Bill Secord did an outstanding job representing FedEx and ALPA National.

Our team participated in over 60 interactions with various Congressman, Senators and their staff. We were lobbying on behalf of FedEx and ALPA National in a preventative nature to educate the legislators regarding potential deleterious actions of the Super Committee. The Super Committee, officially titled "The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction," consists of 12 lawmakers -- six from each party and each chamber -- who have been given nearly unprecedented power to cut projected deficits by $1.5 trillion over 10 years.

We also supported ALPA President Captain Moak while he testified before the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Aviation hearing regarding a comprehensive review of FAA’s NextGen Program: Costs, Benefits, Progress, and Management.

ALPA is lobbying against the Super Committee potentially reducing the 415c defined contribution limits from 49k to 20k or 20% of income, whichever is lower. Five years ago, Congress made the increased 415c limits permanent. Retirement assets in this country increased from 3 trillion to 4.7 trillion dollars over that period. It is just a really bad idea to reduce these limits. In addition, the Super Committee may suggest to start taxing employer provided medical benefits. This has not been done since World War II. Another really bad idea that will hammer 170 million working families in this country and 100% of ALPA pilots.

Going forward, the Legislative Affairs team is still working on the FTDT rules and ensuring they get released from the OMB. They were originally mandated in HR5900 to be release on 01 August 2011, then the can was kicked down the road to 22 November of this year. To be clear, that date is just an estimate and not a deadline. The statutory mandate was Aug. 1. The November date is DOT's internal estimate of when they expect to release it. It could happen sooner - or later.

The FAA reauthorization bill is on its 22nd continuing resolution. It is due to expire at the end of January 2012. Congress is realizing that they need to actually get a full FAA reauthorization bill or the US will fall behind in our worldwide Aviation Leadership.

The FedEx Pilots have about 52 percent of the total ALPA National participation with the most recent “Call to Action.” Total ALPA participants, 2255 in which 1171 are FedEx pilots. Outstanding job to those that stepped up to participate. Please help get the other 75% of our crew force involved in their future:

http://app7.vocusgr.com/WebPublish/Controller.aspx?SiteName=ALPA&Definition=ContactLegislators&IssueID=1084&submit=Take+Action

In Unity,

Captain Fred Eissler
Legislative Affairs Committee Chairman
FedEx-ALPA MEC
ALPA PAC Steering Committee