Rep. Jerry Costello released the following statement:
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL), Ranking Democrat on the Aviation Subcommittee, today voted against H.R. 658, the FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011, during a full Transportation and Infrastructure Committee markup due to concerns that funding cuts in the bill could compromise safety while another provision significantly weakens worker rights.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL), Ranking Democrat on the Aviation Subcommittee, today voted against H.R. 658, the FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011, during a full Transportation and Infrastructure Committee markup due to concerns that funding cuts in the bill could compromise safety while another provision significantly weakens worker rights.
Costello noted that the proposed funding levels in the bill could cause hundreds of aviation safety personnel to be furloughed, weakening the inspection workforce while hurting the economy. The labor provision reverses a National Mediation Board decision from last year that allows a union to be certified if a majority of members participating in the election vote for certification. Under H.R. 658, eligible voters that do not participate would be counted as “no” votes, making it substantially harder to unionize. Costello sponsored an amendment to strip the provision, which received bipartisan support but failed by one vote.
“I could not support the bill in its present form,” said Costello. “The National Mediation Board provision needs to be removed because as we move forward with the Senate it jeopardizes passage of the final bill. Despite this legislation’s flaws, I will continue to work on a bipartisan basis to enact a fair and comprehensive bill that furthers safety and advances our transition to the Next Generation Air Transportation System.”
http://www.thestatecolumn.com/state_politics/illinois/rep-jerry-costello-concerned-with-faa-bill/
Source: THE STATE COLUMN
Date: 2011-02-17