IFPTE NASA Locals Come to Washington – Fight to Save NASA Funding, Unions

Several IFPTE NASA Locals were in Washington, DC, this week to meet with congressional lawmakers, particularly appropriators.  During the meetings, IFPTE discussed legislative items urging lawmakers to reject the Trump Administration’s budget request to cut NASA’s overall budget by 25%, with a whopping 48% cut to NASA science work and another 39% cut to aeronautics research.  In total, leaders and members from Locals 27, 29, and 30, as well as members from two AFGE Locals, along with IFPTE Legislative Director Faraz Khan, participated in over 40 hill meetings with numerous lawmakers and their staff.

Local leaders met with the offices of California Congressman George Whitesides, a good friend to IFPTE and strong supporter of NASA, as well as with House Democratic whip, Katherine Clark; House Appropriations Committee Chair, Tom Cole, and Ranking Member, Rosa DeLauro; Representatives Subramanya, Sykes, Ivey, Khanna, Raskin, Hurd, Meng, and many other House offices.  The group also met with several Senate offices, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senator Hirono, several other Senate offices, and staff from the House Labor Caucus.

IFPTE NASA Members Protest at NASA Headquarters on September 15.