A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/663490
FY 17 BUDGET CONCERNS : The Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 budget resolution released by the House Budget Committee on Tuesday, March 15 remains on life support since conservative Republicans oppose the budget blueprint, which allows for $30 billion in extra discretionary spending compared to the 2011 deficit - cutting law (P.L. 112 - 25). This opposition is threatening to derail the resolutio n if and when it comes to the House floor for a vote. House leadership could choose to bypass any resolution, which is what set the topline spending limits, and instead proceed directly to the annual appropriations bills. Such a move would be unpre cedented , but it could be done. The Congressional Budget Act allows the House to consider appropriations bills on the House floor after May 15 if no budget is passed. These bills could even come to the floor before that date if the House waives certain rules. This strategy would allow conservative Republicans to bypass a vote on a budget they do not support, while allowing for appropriations bills to pass in order to keep the government open. NATCA GA staff will follow this issue closely and keep you updated. Sena te 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 levels. NATCA GA staff will be closely mo nitoring 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 recent discussions centering on FAA reform. Hopes of returning to regular order and pass all twelve appropriations bill are dwindling as budget talks stagnate, but the Senate has announced that it will attempt to start sub - committee markup of senate appropriation bills in mid - April. GA staff continu es to work with THUD committee staff on our priorities. The Senate continues to face a partisan showdown over the Supreme Court vacancy left by Justice Scalia, which could affect scheduling. NATCA GA staff will be closing monitoring as the process moves fo rward and will continue to work diligently to ensure th at the FAA is properly funded. FAA Appropriations: The House Appropriations Committee is moving forward despite budget concerns and has held an extensive series of appropriations hearings for FY17 spen ding. On February 24, the Transportation, Housing, 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 that proposes an increase in the FAA 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. F RIEDRICHS V. CTA UPDATE : A victory for public sector unions resulted from a recent split - decision in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court split 4 - 4 in Friedrichs v. the California Teachers Association, a case challenging the ability of public - sector unions to collect "agency fees" from nonmembers who benefit from their collective bargaining. Striking down the agency fees would have dealt a major blow to public sector unions across the country, but the 4 - 4 split leaves a lower court ruling upholding the fees in tact.