A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/1093105
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE The House and Senate are in session the week of March 11 and then plan recess for the week of March 18. NATCA URGING COSPONSORS FOR H.R. 1108: NATCA strongly supports H.R. 1108, the Aviation Funding Stability Act, which would protect the FAA from future government shutdowns. The National Legislative Committee (NLC), NATCA activists, and GA staff have been aggressively working to encourage members of Congress to sign on as cosponsors to this important legislation. The legislation faces hurdles and political challenges, especially among members of the House Appropriations Committee. Despite that, the legislation has garnered over 115 bipartisan cosponsors in the short period of time since its introduction. Background: If enacted, this legislation would ensure that the aviation system continues to fully operate, without interruption, in the event of a government shutdown. H.R. 1108 was introduced by Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee, and Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), Chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee. The lead Republican on the legislation is Rep. Bob Gibbs (R- Ohio), a senior member of the House T&I Committee. This legislation was introduced following the 35-day government shutdown that wreaked havoc on the National Airspace System and aviation safety professionals. FAA FUNDING STATUS House and Senate Appropriations Committees are beginning work on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 appropriations cycle. The FAA is currently funded until the end of this fiscal year, through Sept. 30, 2019. NATCA Government Affairs staff is advocating for full funding for the FAA in our relevant Congressional appropriations bills in the House and Senate (the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bills, "THUD"). House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) has vowed that the House will pass all appropriations bills by June 30. TRUMP BUDGET PROPOSAL The White House officially sent the FY 2020 budget proposal to Congress on March 11. We are expecting the White House to complete the budget proposal rollout on March 18. NATCA is currently reviewing the President's budget proposal. As a reminder, this is simply a request for funding levels; it is non-binding and Congress, which regularly dismisses the President's budget proposal, still needs to work through the appropriations process. NATCA will continue to adamantly oppose attacks on federal employees and advocate for policy positions and funding levels that support our membership. SEQUESTRATION CUTS As a reminder, in February 2018, Congress passed a two-year budget agreement that removes domestic spending caps and prevents automatic cuts known as "sequestration" until next fiscal year. This means that Congress must act this year to raise the budget caps or risk cutting spending in FY 2020, which begins Oct.1. However, the White House has signaled that it may oppose any congressional deal to raise budget caps this year, especially when it comes to non- defense spending. As a reminder, sequestration was originally enacted as a way to cut federal dollars across the board, but Congress has worked to avoid it over the past several years.