A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/1182646
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE The House and Senate were in session through the end of October. The House is in recess for the first week of November, while the Senate remains in session. Lawmakers have until Nov. 21 to pass a funding bill and avoid a government shutdown. NOVEMBER 21—CR OR SHUTDOWN? A Continuing Resolution (CR) runs through Nov. 21 to keep the federal government open and funded. However, the impeachment inquiry has been consuming Congress and could further delay important business, including the completion of the 12 annual appropriations bills. As such, it is likely that another CR will be necessary to keep the government open past Nov. 21. At the same time, some lawmakers fear that the House impeachment inquiry could lead to a government shutdown. House Impeachment Inquiry: For the past month, House Democrats have been actively pursuing an impeachment investigation into President Trump's conversations with a foreign nation. The House voted on a resolution on Thursday, Oct. 31, that established the procedures for the impeachment investigation and collection of associated testimony. This could pave the way for the House to vote sometime around Thanksgiving on articles of impeachment. If the House approves articles of impeachment, it would move to the Senate for consideration. Government Affairs (GA) will keep you updated on this. Appropriations Status Update: The House has passed 10 out of the 12 appropriations bills, including its version of the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bill, which would provide funding for the FAA, as well as the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) appropriations bill, which proposes a 3.1% pay raise for federal employees. The Senate has been slower to act on its appropriations bills. However, the chamber is currently considering a package of spending bills, which includes its version of the THUD bill. This package has bipartisan support after months of delay. GA staff has been closely working on the consideration of this spending package, including any amendments that have been offered to the measure, as well as the drafted funding levels for the FAA. Following completion of that spending package, Senate Republicans hope to consider the chamber's biggest and most contested spending package: Defense and Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bills. Relevant to NATCA, the full Senate Appropriations Committee has advanced a THUD bill as well as an FSGG bill. NATCA Impacts: NATCA GA staff has been aggressively advocating for full funding for the FAA in the THUD appropriations bills in the House and Senate. GA staff also closely monitors the FSGG appropriations bill, which is the appropriations bill that oversees pay raises for federal civilian employees. Below is a chart of Congress' proposed funding levels for the FAA, in comparison to the