NATCA Bookshelf

NATCA SUPPORTS LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE FAA HIRING PROCESS On April 11, Sens. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) introduced S. 1148, the ATC Hiring Reform Act of 2019. NATCA supports this bipartisan bill which would address some of the barriers that slow the FAA's hiring process for new controller trainees. The bill has been referred to the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee for consideration. GA staff is working with numerous House members who are interested in introducing a companion bill in the House and will keep you updated as this bill moves through the legislative process. POTENTIAL SEQUESTRATION CUTS This will be a challenging year for federal spending. 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. Background: As a reminder, sequestration was originally enacted as a way to cut federal dollars across the board, but Congress has worked to avoid it over the past several years. Budget Proposals: In the House, Democrats proposed their FY 2020 budget, which would raise the budget caps for the next two fiscal years. In the Senate, Republicans proposed their budget at the end of March, which would abide by the strict spending caps sought by the President. However, a bipartisan deal will likely be required in order to lift the caps, so Congress and the White House will continue to negotiate in the coming months. The White House released its FY 2020 budget in March. As a reminder, White House budget proposals are largely symbolic documents that lay out the President's funding priorities. 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. FAA FUNDING STATUS The federal government, including the FAA, is currently funded through Sept. 30, 2019. House and Senate Appropriations Committees have begun work on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 appropriations cycle. There is a desire to return to regular order, and the process has been moving much faster than usual. FY 2020 THUD APPROPRIATIONS 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

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• SAFETY AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT