12.13.01 – (LAA) – Defense Appropriations Conference Committee Meets and Discusses Reconciling House and Senate Versions of HR 3338

This is Leslie Mayo, APFA National Communications Coordinator, with an updated HotLine for Thursday, December 13, 2001.

The time is 6:00 p.m. CST.

The Defense Appropriations Conference Committee met today and has begun discussions relating to the reconciliation of both the House and Senate versions of H.R. 3338. A decision as to whether the so-called Bond Amendment remains attached to this legislation could be made as soon as Friday. APFA Representatives and APFA members system wide have made quite an impact on the members of the Defense Appropriations Committee with meetings on the Hill as well as phone calls, e-mails and faxes expressing opposition to the Bond Amendment. We would like to thank all of you for your efforts and encourage you to continue calling not only the members of the Conference Committee listed on the APFA website, but also your own Representative and Senators.

Please remember to be professional at all times while addressing the Conference Committee members. If the office staff does not want to speak with you, a fax or e-mail will do.

We will keep you updated as additional information is received. Please stay on the line for the regular HotLine.

This is Leslie Mayo, National Communications Coordinator, with the APFA HotLine for Tuesday, December 11, 2001.

As previously reported, Missouri Senator Kit Bond succeeded in attaching an amendment to the Defense Appropriations Bill late Friday night that would mandate third-party arbitration to decide the seniority integration issues stemming from American’s acquisition of TWA. Due to the fact that the Senate and House versions of this Bill differ, a Conference Committee will reconcile the two Bills. It is unclear when this Committee will meet, however, it could be as early as tomorrow.

Both APFA and APA have Representatives in Washington, D.C., who are meeting with several members of the Defense Appropriations Committee and their staff to convey our strong opposition to this Amendment. We have also made calls to a number of other Conferees to set up meetings to discuss this very important issue.

The situation on the Hill remains fluid. APFA urges all members to fax, phone and e-mail each Conferee with the exception of Dick Armey and Kay Bailey-Hutchison who have made known their full support of APFA. Let the Conferees know that you do not support the Bond Amendment. The Defense Bill should address matters of vital national interest and security; not seniority integration for a transaction between private parties.

Please go to the APFA website at www.www.apfa.org and click on the link at the top of the homepage that reads Membership Action Alert. There, you will find a list of all of the Conferees as well as sample letters and talking points to which you can refer while addressing members of Congress.

Don Carty has also expressed American’s opposition to this amendment. The following paragraph appeared in JetNews today:

(QUOTE): “AMERICAN WANTS AMENDMENT REMOVED FROM DEFENSE BILL Don Carty has contacted members of Congress working to resolve differences between the U.S. House and Senate on the Supplemental Defense Appropriations Bill. He has urged them to remove a last-minute amendment dealing with the integration of unions between American Airlines and TWA. The company believes the amendment would both overrule existing federal law and contradict previous agreements made by TWA unions with regard to seniority integration. The company is working closely with AA’s unions to urge the elimination of this provision as the bill is finalized.” (END QUOTE)

The funeral for Captain Chic Burlingame, who lost his life on September 11 on flight 77, will take place on Wednesday, December 12, 2001, at the Ft. Meyer Memorial Chapel in Alexandria, Virginia. This will be followed by internment with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. For security reasons, those wishing to attend should arrive by 12:00 noon. Following the service the family has extended an invitation to a reception at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center located at 5000 Seminary Road in Alexandria.

Thank you for calling the APFA HotLine. This HotLine will be updated on Friday.