A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/1087616
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE The new 116 th Congress convened on Jan. 3, 2019, which was in the midst of the 35-day government shutdown. In the House, Democrats are now in the majority. In the Senate, Republicans maintained the majority. Congress was in session for seven consecutive weeks and then they recessed during the week of Feb. 18 for President's Day. Both chambers came back into session on Feb. 25. RECOVERING FROM 35-DAY SHUTDOWN Roughly a quarter of the government, including the FAA, shut down for 35 days when a government funding bill was not passed prior to the Dec. 22, 2018 funding deadline. Throughout the shutdown, most of Congress' work was put on hold as members worked to come to a compromise to reopen the government. The government reopened on Jan. 25, after 35 days, but only via a short-term continuing resolution (CR) that funded the government through Feb. 15. Fortunately, Congress passed a funding bill to meet the Feb. 15 deadline to avoid another government shutdown and the FAA is now funded through Sept. 30. However, it will take months or even longer to determine the true impacts the government shutdown had on the aviation system. • NATCA President Paul Rinaldi Testimony: NATCA President Paul Rinaldi testified before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation on Feb. 13 at a hearing titled "Putting U.S. Aviation at Risk: The Impact of the Shutdown." Rinaldi's testimony focused on how the 35-day government shutdown eroded the layers of critical elements necessary to support and maintain the safety of the NAS, and the system was on the verge of unraveling. During the hearing, Paul also encouraged members of the Aviation Subcommittee to cosponsor H.R. 1108, the Aviation Funding Stability Act, which, if signed into law, would ensure that the aviation system continues to fully operate, without interruption, in the event of a government shutdown. To watch the hearing, click here. To read the written testimony, click here. • Lobby Weeks and Rally: Throughout the entire duration of the shutdown, NATCA hosted multiple lobby weeks in Washington, D.C. for activists to meet with their members of Congress to discuss the severe impacts of the government shutdown on the NAS and our workforce and to call for an immediate end to the government shutdown. NATCA also hosted a rally on Capitol Hill Jan. 10 which was attended by hundreds of NATCA members and representatives of other aviation organizations to raise awareness about the detrimental effects of the shutdown. It included passionate speeches from bipartisan members of Congress and aviation industry leaders. • FAA Funding: The FAA receives funding via the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill. The Agency is currently funded through the remainder of the fiscal year (until Sept. 30, 2019). House and Senate appropriations committees are beginning their work on FY 2020 funding, and GA will continue to advocate for appropriate levels of funding for the FAA.