Legislative and Political Affairs

February 1, 2010

On the hill this week, Senators will continue to work on a jobs bill that the President asked for in his State of the Union address last week. The House and the Senate will also continue to work on a strategy to pass comprehensive health care reform despite the election results in the Massachusetts.

In the House, the Science and Technology Committee will hold a hearing regarding Passenger Screen R&D, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will hold a hearing regarding FAA Airline Safety and Pilot Training as well as a hearing regarding Stimulus Spending on Transportation Programs.

In the Senate, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is holding a hearing on Aviation Security and Flight 253, the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee is holding a hearing about a National Labor Relations Board Nomination, and the Finance Committee is holding a hearing on Health Care Proposals.

Additionally, the Senate will vote on two nominations this week. First, they will consider the nomination of Patricia Smith to be Solicitor for the Department of Labor. Later in the week, they will consider the nomination of Harold Craig Becker to be a member of the National Labor Relations Board.


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We all know that what is won at the bargaining table can be taken away with the stroke of a pen. Actually, legislation can either add to or take away from our collective bargaining agreements. The Department of Legislative and Political Affairs (DLPA) is charged with representing TWU Members interests with legislators including the President of the United States, Congress, Federal Agencies, and other groups on legislative issues that affect our Members. As advocates we evaluate changes in state and local governments that may affect federal law and vice versa. We strive to uphold the TWU Constitution “to promote legislation advancing the interests of the Union and its members at the local, state and national levels, to engage in political education o f the membership, and to engage in such other activity as may be necessary…”

In January, Barack Obama was sworn in as President of the United States and began the massive undertaking of stabilizing and reviving our nation’s economy, reforming our health care system to provide affordable healthcare to all, rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure, strengthening our public education and social security systems and redesigning our energy and climate policy among his top priorities. As your representatives in Washington, we are working to ensure that the members of TWU have their voices heard in the halls of Congress and the White House on all of these critical issues.

Right now, Congress is actively debating proposed legislation that would completely overhaul the health care delivery system in the United States and the House of Representatives just passed the first comprehensive climate change legislation in our nation’s history. This is a transformational time for America and YOU should be involved. Stay involved by reading about issues right here on the Legislative page and responding to “legislative alerts and updates” that will be posted on this page. Also, encourage all Members to participate in grassroot campaigns such as Employee Free Choice Act, the campaign for health care reform, and stay engaged yourself by going to local town hall meetings, events, and writing your elected officials to tell them your opinion. Make your voice HEARD!