Whereas February 17, 2017, is the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (in this preamble referred to as PASS ); Whereas PASS was founded in Chicago, Illinois, on February 17, 1977; Whereas PASS currently represents over 11,000 Federal employees of the Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Defense; Whereas PASS represents employees who install, maintain, support, and certify air traffic control and defense equipment, oversee the commercial and general aviation industries, develop flight procedures, and perform quality analysis of complex aviation systems used in air traffic control and national defense in the United States and abroad; Whereas PASS represents five different bargaining units within the Air Traffic Organization and Office of Aviation Safety at the Federal Aviation Administration; Whereas PASS represents certain employees of the Federal Aviation Administration, including— (1) systems specialists who ensure functionality of communications systems, computer systems, navigational aids, and power systems vital to safe air travel and the mission of pilots and controllers; (2) flight standards and manufacturing aviation safety inspectors who oversee the aviation industry to ensure adherence to Federal Aviation Administration regulations and safety standards in the United States and abroad; (3) aeronautical information professionals who develop, maintain and support instrument flight procedures and a variety of aviation products that support industry performance and efficiency in the airspace and on the ground; (4) flight inspection pilots, mission specialists, and operations Staff who develop and administer services critical to ground- and space-based navigation systems; (5) aircraft maintenance employees who maintain the Federal Aviation Administration’s fleet of aircraft, enabling the Federal Aviation Administration to provide industry certification and service needs