A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/654612
reminder, before the 2012 FAA reauthorization bill was enacted into law, there were 23 extensions for FAA authorization. Each time the extension was about to lapse was another chance for a partial FAA shutdown and member furloughs. This is the sort of funding uncertainty that NATCA has worked hard to address and is all the more reason to remain involved and engaged in the process. NATCA continues to push for reform to end the stop - and - go funding unc ertainty, which has been problematic for the workforce and the NAS for far too long. The extension passed by the House comes after leadership determined that the chamber will not take up House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee Chairman Bill S huster's long - term FAA reauthorization bill (H.R. 4441) before the March 31 deadline. Chairman Shuster continues to educate members of Congress about his proposal and address their concerns, in hopes of generating enough support for H.R. 4441 to be conside red on the House floor. If no bill or extension is passed and signed into law, then the FAA will face a partial shutdown as it did in 2011. NATCA staff continues to work with all sides on the extension and will offer more upda tes as they become available. SENATE COMMITTEE PASSES LONG - TERM FAA BILL : The Senate Commerce Committee approved its version of a long - term FAA reauthorization bill during a mark - up on Wednesday, March 16. The bill was approved via voice vote after the committee quickly adopted more t han 50 amendments. This legislation, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2016 (S. 2658) would reauthorize the FAA for eighteen months. The bill does not include an air traffic control not - for - profit proposal as the House version proposes. Senate Commerce Commit tee Chairman John Thune (R - SD) and Ranking Member Bill Nelson (D - FL) hope to bring the bill to up for consideration in the Senate in April before lawmakers head into the busy appropriations season. NATCA staff has remained in close contact with Senators Th une, Nelson and their staffs about the details of the legislation to ensure our concerns are addressed. NATCA was successful in adding controller hiring language that would make necessary improvements in the hiring process at the FAA. The bill continues to be a work - in - progress. It includes language that would require live, in - person interviews for air traffic controllers. We will continue to work with Senate staff to address this concern and other concerns when the bill comes to the Senate floor. Likewise, we are working with House T&I Chairman Bill Shuster to address our concerns if the legislat ion is considered in the House. Background: We have made clear that we will consider any and all reform proposals so long as they do not maintain the status quo or result in a for - profit system. That is why we support the House bill, H.R. 4441 – it offers a solution to the funding uncertainty, and is consistent with all of our organization's policies, practices, and principles while also protecting our members and th e unionized workforce. Click here to view NATCA's press release and here to view t he message sent to NATCA membership from the National Executive Board. Click to read Paul's testimony before the House T&I Committee, which approved the legislation. FY17 BUDGET MARK - UP IN U.S. HOUSE : A Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 budget resolution released by the House Budget Committee on Tuesday, March 15 will be marked up on Wednesday, March 16 despite uncertainty over the plan's fate on the House floor. House Freedom Caucus Republicans have stated their opposition to the plan, and on Monday, March 3, the Caucus formally voted to oppose the budget. Without their support, the budget would likely lack a majority of House votes, since the spending blueprint typically gets no Democratic votes.