Published 28 Jul, 2011 With the federal government rapidly approaching the debt ceiling, most of Congressional leadership’s time has been dedicated to negotiation a way to avoid default. After weeks of failed compromises and false starts, Senate Majority Leader Reid unveiled his plan to raise the limit by $2.7 trillion through a combination of deep…Read More…

Published 06 Jul, 2011 Senate leadership chose to forgo their planned July 4 vacation this week, placing both chambers in session this week. In the House, the Defense Appropriations will be brought to the floor, while the Senate debates a resolution on the US’s involvement in Libya. Senate Republicans boycotted the mark-ups of the three…Read More…

Published 27 Jun, 2011 The House recessed for the July 4 holiday without holding the mock mark-ups of the three trade agreements they had threatened, to show their displeasure with the Administration for not sending them for Congressional approval. In session this week, the Senate has several noncontroversial nomination hearings to go through, thanks to…Read More…

Published 28 Mar, 2012 If certain groups have their way with the Surface Transportation Bill workers could be faced with the elimination of pensions Business lobbyists are trying to get language implemented into the Surface Transportation Bill (or any highway measure the House passes) to receive relief from pension funding requirements. They claim pension funding…Read More…

Published 21 Mar, 2012 Edward Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), offers the following statement in response to the House FY 2013 budget resolution released by Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI): “The Ryan budget resolution released today is the worst for transportation that we have ever seen. “It not only turns…Read More…

Published 22 Feb, 2012 Both chambers of Congress are in recess this week for the Presidents’ Day break. Before adjourning, they were able to push through a compromise to extend unemployment benefits, as well as the payroll tax holiday, through December 31. Upon their return next week, we expect action on the Surface Transportation Bill…Read More…

Published 09 Feb, 2012 The Senate approved the FAA Reauthorization conference report earlier this week. Below is more information on the process, TWU’s advocacy efforts, and the benefits of the bill for our Members. Following three-and-a-half years without a full FAA reauthorization, which led to 23 stopgap extensions and one painful showdown of the FAA,…Read More…

Published 31 Jan, 2012 With both chambers back from holiday recess and President Obama’s goals laid out in the State of the Union, lawmakers are back to business with a vengeance this week. Two extremely important bills will see final negotiations this week, as the FAA Authorizations conference committee meets to hash out the differences…Read More…

Published 10 Apr, 2012 On Friday, March 30th, President Obama signed the three-month extension, the ninth extension since it expired in September 2009, of the transportation bill that prevented the shutdown of highway and transit projects across the country. The House passed the extension by a vote of 266-158. The Senate, after strong opposition to…Read More…