NAATS HEADQUARTERS EMAIL UPDATE

Volume 3, #93

October 16, 2003

Not much has changed on FAA Reauthorization or the �04 appropriations bills. The lines are drawn in the sand and compromises will have to be worked before either bill will move. Best guess is to expect another continuing resolution at the end of this month although S.1618 may pick up additional support. As a rule of thumb, the longer this goes the better our position. There�s no indication that we�re losing support although both sides are continuing to work key individual congressional representatives.

True to his word, Representative Cummings (D-MD) has offered legislation, HR3267, to eliminate certain inequities in the Civil Service Retirement System and the Federal Employees' Retirement System with respect to the computation of benefits for law enforcement officers, firefighters, air traffic controllers, nuclear materials couriers, members of the Supreme Court and Capitol police, and their survivors. The net effect for us is to change to a more beneficial retirement formula. This concept has been introduced in prior sessions of congress. We�ll track this legislation and work to gather support but, at this time, there are no co-sponsors.

The BOD meeting was held last week and the minutes will be distributed as soon as the necessary coordination is accomplished. One of the decisions is to tentatively schedule FacRep training for December 16-17. Please note -- do not finalize any arrangements until November 14 when the ratification ballots are counted. More details will follow.

For the past week Regional Director Mark Jaffe and I have traveled to several SW Region facilities to discuss the pay ratification and A76. On Sunday we were at ABQ with FacRep Dennis Detrow, Monday at CXO and DRI with FacRep Brian Gleich and Alternative FacRep Carlos Torres, Tuesday at JBR with FacRep Linda Sterling, Wednesday at FTW with FacRep Sal Mugica, and today at SJT with RegCo/FacRep Jim Hale. As always, the meetings have all been productive and I�ve enjoyed discussing the issues directly with the members. My thanks for all the input and hospitality.

Wally Pike