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U.S. Rep. Angie Craig Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Attract New Generation of Transportation Workers

November 21, 2019

The Promoting Service in Transportation Act would authorize Public Service Announcements to promote diversity for in-demand transportation jobs

Last week, U.S. Reps. Angie Craig (MN-02), Rick Larsen (WA-02), and Don Young (AK-At large) introduced a bipartisan bill to help diverse applicants fill in-demand transportation career opportunities across Minnesota's Second Congressional District.

The national aviation industry will need more than 800,000 pilots, 769,000 technicians and nearly 20,000 air traffic controllers to meet demand over the next 10 years, and the trucking industry needs 60,000 to 100,000 more drivers each year. The vast majority of people who fill these positions are white males. The Promoting Service in Transportation Act seeks to address this workforce shortage and lack of diversity by authorizing the U.S. Department of Transportation to develop public service announcements that would promote job opportunities in the transportation sector and recruit more diverse applicants.

"I'm a proud original cosponsor of the Promoting Service in Transportation Act, which will raise awareness of jobs available in the transportation industry," said Rep. Craig. "This bill aims to attract young people across Minnesota's Second Congressional District to exciting and in-demand local career opportunities such as the district's air traffic control facility in Farmington, the 12 different FAA repair stations in the district, and our regional aviation hub, the Minneapolis – St. Paul Airport. The transportation industry faces workforce and diversity challenges that we must address."

In Congress, Rep. Craig serves as a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The bill is supported by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA), Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), Transport Workers Union (TWU), Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA), the Aviation Technician Education Council (ATEC), National Air Transportation Association (NATA), Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), Truckload Carriers Association (TCA), Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) and the Helicopter Association International (HAI).