NiW 2026: Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Richard Durbin Honored with James L. Oberstar Sentinel of Safety Award

May 6, 2026

NATCA presented the James L. Oberstar Sentinel of Safety Award to senators Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.) and Richard Durbin (Ill.) at NATCA in Washington. This honor is the Union's highest recognition for individuals outside the organization who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in the advancement of aviation safety. Renamed in 2014, the award commemorates the legacy of Congressman Jim Oberstar, a dedicated advocate for the air traffic control profession and the National Airspace System.

Shaheen, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has been a pivotal ally in securing the future of the workforce. She sponsored the ATC Workforce Development Act and the ATC Hiring Act and was instrumental in the vote to end the 43-day government shutdown in 2025. Her commitment to bipartisan solutions has directly strengthened the stability of the aviation system and the safety of the flying public.

Durbin, the Senate Minority Whip and an Appropriations Committee member, is a key sponsor of the Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025. His advocacy was essential in ending the 2025 government shutdown and protecting federal employees from political instability. "You're responsible for making split-second decisions that keep Americans safe and our economy running," Durbin said while accepting the award. "I won't stop fighting to give our air traffic controllers what they truly deserve."