NATCA Bookshelf

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE The House returned from August recess and both chambers of Congress are in session for the month of September, with the exception of one week when the House will be in recess. House GOP Leadership is already considering "giving back" the two weeks that the House is scheduled to be in session in October. This would give members more time to campaign in their districts in advance of the mid-term elections. NATCA MEMBERS HEAD TO CAPITOL HILL FOR ROLLING LOBBY WEEKS Since Tuesday, September 4, NATCA members have been in Washington, D.C. for rolling lobby weeks to educate members of Congress and Staff on two immediate issues impacting our membership (see below). The activists visited more than 250 offices over the course of the first four days to urge members of Congress to prevent a government shutdown by passing a funding bill for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 and pass an FAA Reauthorization bill before September 30. The meetings have been productive and the NATCA message has been well received on Capitol Hill. • Avoid a Government Shutdown: The current government funding bill expires on September 30. While Congress has moved quicker than usual on appropriations bills this year, the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) bill, which provides funding for the FAA, has not been finalized. A final THUD bill will need to be approved by both chambers and signed into law before the new fiscal year begins on October 1; otherwise, a continuing resolution (CR) will be necessary to keep the FAA running at current spending levels. • Pass an FAA Reauthorization Bill: The current FAA Reauthorization extension expires on September 30. While the House has passed a long-term FAA Reauthorization bill, the Senate bill has been delayed. Because there is not enough time for both chambers to come to a final agreement on a long-term bill, another FAA extension will likely be necessary in order to avoid a partial shutdown at the FAA. While NATCA's preference is for a long-term FAA Reauthorization bill, an extension would provide the necessary authority for programs to continue in the meantime and avoid a partial shutdown at the Agency. NATCA members have been reinforcing this during their meetings in the Senate. GOVERNMENT FUNDING The government is currently operating under a $1.3 trillion omnibus appropriations bill that provides funding for the federal government for the rest of this fiscal year (FY 2018), expiring on September 30. Appropriators have been working on next year's spending bills for FY 19 in order to avoid a government shutdown on September 30. As

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