NATCA Bookshelf

FY 2019 through FY 2023. During this year's NATCA in Washington (NiW), participants asked their Senators to urge Senate leadership to complete action on its version of long-term FAA reauthorization legislation (S. 1405). • NATCA Impact: NATCA supports H.R. 4, as passed in the House, and has been meeting with Senators and staff on the Senate side to urge quick passage of a long-term reauthorization for the FAA. NATCA continues to highlight the need for a stable, predictable funding stream that adequately supports the following: air traffic control services, staffing, hiring and training, long-term modernization projects, preventative maintenance, ongoing modernization to the physical infrastructure, and the timely implementation of NextGen modernization projects. TRUMP'S ALTERNATIVE PAY PLAN On August 30, President Trump sent an "alternative pay plan" to the House and Senate that includes a zero percent pay increase for federal employees in 2019. This would only affect the January pay adjustment and would not affect any other contract-related pay increases. It is important to note that the President's alternative pay plan would only take effect if Congress does not act. The Senate already passed the FY 2019 Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) appropriations bill that includes a 1.9 percent pay increase for federal employees for 2019. However, the House did not provide for a pay increase in its version of the FSGG bill, nor has the House passed the bill. Appropriators in both chambers of Congress are currently working to reconcile their spending bills, including the FSGG appropriations bill, and it is possible that this disparity could be reconciled as part of a final spending bill that is passed before the September 30 deadline. Congress can pass a bill that includes a pay increase and, if it is signed into law, the President's action will be overridden. NATCA Government Affairs works with leadership, members, and staff in Congress to advocate for federal employee pay raises, and also takes an active role in federal employee coalitions that also advocate for federal employee pay raises. LEGISLATIVE WATCHLIST President Trump and the Administration could continue to issue executive actions that adversely impact federal employees. Likewise, members of Congress have and will continue to introduce anti-federal employee bills, including those that would attack the use of official time and negatively impact federal employee pay and benefits. In addition to keeping a close watch on legislation that is introduced and actions from the Administration, Government Affairs staff is tracking congressional hearings and bills that are relevant to our membership.

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