Senate Action on Budget: Republicans on the Senate Budget Committee have
delayed consideration of a budget as they also attempt to forge a compromise among
conservatives and defense hawks over spending levels the parties agreed to in the fall.
Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi (R - WY) recently noted that producing a budget
was not crucial to moving forward with appropriations bills to fund the government since
Congress passed legislation last year to establish spending l evels. NATCA GA staff will
be closely monitoring the budget process as House and Senate discussions continue
and will keep you updated.
APPROPRIATIONS : This appropriations season will be especially challenging given the
current budget environment and rece nt discussions centering on FAA reform.
Republican leadership in the House and Senate still hope to return to regular order and
pass all twelve appropriations bill for the first time since 1994. However, both chambers
remain divided on how much to spend, a nd this continues to generate tension among
the several factions of the party. Additionally, the Senate is now facing a partisan
showdown over the Supreme Court vacancy left by Justice Scalia. NATCA GA staff will
be closing monitoring as the process moves forward and will continue to work diligently
to ensure th at the FAA is properly funded.
FAA Appropriations : The House Appropriations Committee is already beginning
to hold appropriations hearings for FY17 spending. On February 24, the Transportation,
Housi ng, and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations Subcommittee held a hearing
for the Department of Transportation (DOT) with DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx as the
witness, and on March 2, the THUD Subcommittee held a hearing to discuss FAA
funding levels, with FAA Administrator Michael Huerta as the witness. NATCA closely
monitors the THUD appropriations legislation, which provides funding for the FAA. As a
reminder, President Obama released his FY17 budget proposal recently, which
proposes an increase in the FA A Operations account from $9.909 billion in FY16 to
$9.994 billion in FY17. We will keep you updated as the THUD subcommittees in the
House and Senate move forward with their respective appropriations bills.
COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT
NATCA Hosting IFAT CA 55th Annual Conference
NATCA is proud and excited to host the International Federation of Air Traffic
Controllers' Associations (IFATCA) 55th Annual Conference, March 14 - 18 at Bally's in
Las Vegas. The theme of the conference is The Formula Worldwide: G lobal
Professionalism + Leadership = Safe Skies. Air traffic controllers' associations from
around the world are meet ing in the spirit of solidarity and partnership. Our event
coverage:
12 - Page Conference Newspaper
Photo Album
Website
Facebook (#IFATCA201 6)
Twitter (#IFATCA2016)
IFATCA Website
Communicating For Safety , March 21 - 23
Annually hosted by NATCA, Communicating F or Safety (CFS) is the aviation
industry's leading conference focusing on safety, technology , and building relationships
with other aviation professionals. This three - day conference (March 21 - 23, at Bally's Las
