Feb. 27, 2020
NBAA applauded the recent introduction of legislation in the U.S. Senate to fund informative public service campaigns to promote workforce development throughout the transportation sector, including business aviation, and encouraged members to show their support for the measure to lawmakers through its Contact Congress resource.
Introduced by Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK), S.B. 3303 is a companion bill to legislation introduced last November in the U.S. House of Representatives. That measure, H.R. 5118, seeks to, “Increase awareness of career opportunities in the transportation sector, including aviation pilots, safety inspectors, mechanics and technicians, air traffic controllers [and] flight attendants,” as well as jobs across other facets of the nation’s transportation industry.
“Following the introduction of the House bill last year, NBAA launched a concerted effort encouraging our members to Contact Congress and engage with their elected representatives on Capitol Hill about this workforce-development measure,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “This Senate legislation is another important step in that process toward realizing such a program to promote careers throughout the transportation sector, including the number of diverse and well-paying careers in our industry.”
Contact Congress to support the legislation.
If enacted, the measures would provide $5 million annually to the U.S. Department of Transportation through fiscal year 2026 to produce a variety of public information programs promoting STEM-based careers within the transportation industry to students. Compelling print and broadcast media, targeted social media postings and other outreach efforts are among the potential avenues to be explored to reach prospective career-seekers.
“With the ongoing development of such forward-thinking technologies as unmanned aircraft, electric power and other sustainable propulsion methods and ever-expanding avionics capabilities, it’s clear that aviation is at the forefront of high-tech career opportunities for students,” Bolen added. “Our goal is to encourage bipartisan support for this legislation, so I hope that NBAA members will make these measures a priority when engaging with their elected officials.”
NBAA’s support for the Senate measure follows written testimony submitted Feb. 11 by the association to the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation that encouraged lawmakers to address the growing shortage of pilots and aircraft technicians across the aviation industry, as well as an aging pilot population. Read NBAA’s written testimony.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.