To amend title 49, United States Code, to modify bargaining requirements for proposed changes to the personnel management system of the Federal Aviation Administration.

H.R. 5449 was a legislative proposal designed to change how labor disputes are resolved between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and its employee unions, specifically regarding pay and work rules. The bill sought to repeal a provision that allowed the FAA to unilaterally implement its own contract proposals if negotiations reached an impasse and a 60-day congressional review period passed without action. By removing this authority, the bill aimed to require both the FAA and its employees to return to the bargaining table or seek binding arbitration to reach a mutual agreement.

For the average citizen, the practical impact of this bill centered on the stability of the nation’s air traffic control system. Proponents argued that requiring mutual agreement would improve morale and retention among air traffic controllers, potentially reducing the risk of staffing shortages or labor unrest that could lead to flight delays. While the bill received a majority of votes in the House of Representatives, it failed to pass because it was considered under a fast-track procedure that required a two-thirds supermajority.