Legislation

The Government Affairs Department is dedicated to protecting the jobs and working conditions of all ATU members. The Department monitors legislation impacting transit, school bus and intercity bus transportation at the federal and state levels. Working with the AFL-CIO, we also follow and act on labor-related legislation on all levels.

The Department works to defeat legislation and proposed regulations that would have a negative impact on our members and our greatest allies: public transit riders. ATU Government Affairs provides direct lobbying on Capitol Hill, drafts testimony, and works to mobilize our members on various legislative issues in coordination with our new Department of Field Mobilization and Training.

At the federal level, we advocate for increasing transit funding and work to ensure that transit systems have the flexibility they need to use such funds to keep critical transit service on the street. We also promote programs to increase state investment in transit and boost transit ridership.  ATU advocates for the expansion of transit workforce development initiatives and new programs to protect the safety and security of transit and intercity workers and passengers.

At the state level, ATU assists local divisions and state legislative conference boards, providing legislative alerts on important bills and proposals that would impact our members.

Founded in 1892, ATU has played a leading role in the crafting of every major national surface transportation bill since the founding of the Urban Mass Transportation Administration, which in 1991 became the Federal Transit Administration.  Each day, millions of transit riders nationwide put their trust in our members’ ability to safely get people to their destinations. Our legislative proposals are based on the recommendations of the men and women who have the most unique perspective to understand the needs of the transit industry – the thousands of people who proudly serve as the “eyes and ears” of our nation’s public transportation systems.