A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/617391
broad deal that set budget levels for the next two years and lifted the debt ceiling until 2017, a government shutdown is still possible should Congress fail to pass another CR or omnibus appropriations package before the new deadline of D ecember 16. With some members of Congress pushing for inclusion of controversial provisions in any spending bill, the path toward a final spending deal has been complicated. GA staff is preparing materials just in case the path changes and a government shu tdown or partial government shutdown becomes more likely. FAA LONG - TERM REAUTHORIZATION : With Congress in session only a few more days this year, NATCA is already looking ahead to 2016 when Congress is set to consider a long - term Federal Aviation Adminis tration (FAA) Reauthorization. As a reminder, FAA authority is temporarily extended through March 31, 2016 (via H.R. 3614, the Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2015). Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member DeFazio on the House Transportation and Infrastru cture (T&I) Committee have made it clear that they only want one extension for the FAA this time around, which is the extension that we are now operating under until March. In the Senate, Commerce Chairman John Thune expects that the House will move first, and then the Senate will act on its own version. NATCA President Paul Rinaldi and EVP Trish Gilbert, along with GA staff, continue to work closely with House and Senate committee staff to discuss NATCA's priorities for the FAA reauthorization bill. SEQUE STRATION BACKGROUND : NATCA has long advocated for sequester relief. As you know, sequestration has been used as a tool to reduce the federal budget, and in 2013, the measure drastically cut the FAA budget and caused furloughs at the FAA. The budget deal re cently signed into law by President Obama provides sequestration relief by increasing discretionary spending by $80 billion above sequester - level spending caps. While this is certainly helpful for NATCA, this simply kicks the can down the road for two year s. If and when Congress passes an omnibus , it will be up to the executive branch to figure out what the implications are for each agency and department. NATCA will continue to work with members of Congress and staff on the issue of sequestration. We contin ue to remind them of the affect sequestration had on the aviation system and our members in 2013. FAA ANNOUNCES DRONE REGISTRATION RULES : The FAA announced rules on Monday, Dec . 14 that will require most owners of recreational unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly referred to as "drones," to register the devices in a national database. The rules are a result of recent safety concerns raised by numerous aircraft pilots who hav e reported seeing drones during flights. The FAA is still working on broader rules to regulate the devices, including thos e used for commercial purposes. COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT THE NEW NATCA.ORG WEBSITE IS HERE! Like a team of employees readying a new baseball season before Opening Day, we have been excitedly working to prepare the new ly redesigned natca.org flagship NATCA website for launch. Earlier this week, we made the final technical moves necessary to turn on the new site and the transition w ent smoothly. Thus, if you go to natca.org you will see the new site and we invite you to browse . However, we plan an official "grand opening" of sorts on Friday, Dec. 18, with an announcement in the NATCA Insider that is emailed to each member. The Inside r will detail several of the big issues