WASHINGTON — About 20 members of the Families of Continental Flight 3407

descended on the Capitol on Wednesday, intent on pressuring a Tennessee senator to abandon his plans

to stop a bill filled with aviation safety measures from coming up for a vote.

"Please, don't let some petty political move stand in the way of this," said Kevin Kuwik,

one of the organizers of the families group.

The families planned an afternoon meeting with the staff of Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., who

placed a hold on the bill reauthorizing federal funding for the Federal Aviation

Administration. The bill includes several key aviation safety measures the families have been

pushing for a year.

Corker is upset about a provision in the House version of the bill. While it is not

included in the current version of the Senate bill, Corker placed a hold on it to strengthen

the Senate's hand in negotiations with the House over a final bill.

The provision would allow drivers for FedEx to organize on the local level under the

National Labor Relations Act. It would replace the current requirement that they can organize

only nationwide under the Railway Labor Act.

Memphis-based FedEx adamantly opposes the measure, calling it a giveaway to rival UPS.

Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., said he is pressuring Corker to lift his hold on the

legislation. If that happens, the long-delayed FAA bill could go to the Senate floor as soon

as today.

If Corker refuses to lift the hold, 60 senators will have to vote to lift it. That vote

would likely take place tomorrow, said Schumer, adding that he believes he has more than

enough votes to break the hold.

If Schumer wins that vote, the FAA bill would likely come to the Senate floor for

consideration next week.

And Kuwik said the family members would be back for that — even though they had

mobilized a large group to come to Washington this week, thinking the bill would come to the

Senate floor Wednesday.