Why It Matters
The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) is lobbying amid a perfect storm of aviation crises that have made its core concerns urgent congressional priorities. A fatal mid-air collision in January 2025 exposed systemic FAA failures and triggered bipartisan demands for safety reforms. Air traffic controller shortages have reached critical levels, with controllers working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks while facing repeated government shutdowns that left them unpaid. PASS’s strategy targets stable appropriations mechanisms, robust implementation of the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act, and federal employee labor protections—positioning itself at the intersection of public safety, operational continuity, and workforce advocacy.
By the Numbers
Professional Aviation Safety Specialists reported $129,369 in the fourth quarter 2025 in-house lobbying expenditures. Since 2003, PASS has filed 125 total disclosures and spent over $8 million across two decades.
The union’s advocacy is conducted by Jana Lea Denning, who has represented PASS since 2021. Denning brings nine years of Capitol Hill experience, including tenure as Senior Professional Staff Member on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee—the panel with direct FAA jurisdiction. From 2016 to 2025, PASS supplemented internal efforts with Team Hallahan LLC, spending $700,000 on FAA reauthorization and staffing issues.
The Agenda
Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) is lobbying on three fronts critical to its members.
The union targets appropriations and funding stability through measures like the FY 2026 THUD appropriations and Aviation Funding Stability Act—addressing disruptions from repeated government shutdowns.
On aviation safety, PASS lobbies to oversee implementation of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 and advance bills including the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Oversight Reform Act and Safe Operation of Shared Airspace Act.
The union also advocates for federal employee labor protections through the PRO Act and Protect America’s Workforce Act.
Broader Context
Congress is addressing an aviation system in crisis. A fatal mid-air collision near Washington D.C. in January 2025 exposed systemic FAA failures and catalyzed bipartisan safety legislation. The FAA faces severe staffing shortages, with only about 10,800 certified controllers versus the 14,600 needed. A 40-day government shutdown in fall 2025 left controllers working without pay, while federal workforce reductions included approximately 400 FAA layoffs in early 2025.
Between The Lines
The January collision near Reagan National Airport that killed 67 people has transformed congressional aviation oversight. The National Transportation Safety Board determined systemic FAA failures caused the disaster, prompting FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford to publicly accept all findings.
This catalyzed bipartisan legislative action. Senators Cruz and Cantwell pushed the ROTOR Act, while the Senate Commerce Committee unanimously approved safety legislation. Both chambers held reauthorization oversight hearings in May 2025.
During the October-November shutdown, controller absences surged, with 80 percent absent at New York facilities.
Competitive Landscape
PASS operates alongside other aviation stakeholders. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) reported $380,000 in fourth quarter 2025 lobbying on similar bills, including the ROTOR Act and Safe Operations of Shared Airspace Act. Both unions align on FAA appropriations, staffing modernization, and federal employee benefits, creating a broad labor coalition pushing Congress on aviation policy.
The Bottom Line
PASS’s $129,369 fourth quarter 2025 lobbying spend reflects strategic positioning during heightened congressional focus on aviation safety and federal workforce stability. The union representing over 11,000 federal aviation employees targets funding stability, safety implementation, and labor protections through multiple legislative vehicles. With Congress actively addressing safety crises, staffing shortages, and shutdown disruptions, PASS leverages insider expertise through former House Transportation Committee staffer Jana Lea Denning to influence policy at a critical moment for FAA operations.
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