A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/698751
Background : A short - term ex tension (H.R. 4721) is currently in place to extend aviation programs and excise taxes through July 15. In April, the Senate passed its version of long - term FAA reauthorization legislation (H.R. 636), which would only reauthorize the FAA through Fiscal Yea r 2017. In the House, the T&I Committee approved H.R. 4441 back in February, which includes air traffic control reform, but that legislation has yet to come to the House floor for a vote. House Democrats are unified in their opposition against separating A TC from government, and the Republican caucus has yet to get in line behind the proposal with many members of Congress still opposed to the issue, most notably including members on the Appropriations and Ways & Means Committees, as well as members of the F reedom Caucus. APPROPRIATIONS UPDATE : The appropriations process continues to hit roadblocks with Senate consideration of the final version of the Military Construction - VA spending bill this week. This appropriations bill is traditionally the first and l east controversial of the 12 annual measures needed to fund the government. But there appears to be a lack of support for the measure because it's attached to a contested funding package intended to combat the Zika virus, and the President has promised to veto the bill. In other words, the push by Republican leaders to restore regular and timely order to the appropriations process continues to face trouble. THUD Funding : The Senate passed its version of the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (T HUD) appropriations bill on May 19, and the House Appropriations Committee approved its version of the legislation on May 24. The Senate THUD spending bill, if enacted, would provide $16.4 billion for the FAA, which is $131.6 million above the FY2016 enact ed level. Specifically, the Senate version would provide the FAA Operations account $9.9 billion ($54 million over the President's request), the F&E account $2.8 billion, and the Research, Engineering, and Development account $167.5 million. This is great news for NATCA, especially considering that other THUD programs received cuts. The House THUD spending bill would provide $16.3 billion for the FAA. Specifically, the bill would provide the marks NATCA advocated for --- $9.994 billion in the FAA Operations account, and $2.838 billion in the F&E account. Background : As a reminder, there are 12 spending bills for both chambers to get through in order to fund the government before Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17) starts on October 1. If that doesn't happen, a continui ng resolution (CR) will need to be enacted to keep the government open. NATCA GA staff monitors the THUD appropriations bill, which is the spending measure that provides funding to the FAA. NATCA GA staff has been continuously meeting with members of both the full House and Senate Appropriations Committees, as well as committee staff, to make sure they know the importance of sufficient funding for the FAA to NATCA members. Status of Appropriations Bills : So far, the House has passed the Mil - Con VA, Legisla tive Branch, Energy - Water, and Defense appropriations bills, while the Senate has passed THUD, Mil - Con VA, and the Energy - Water bill. COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT BRINGING THE NEWS TO YOU – A KEY IMPROVEMENT TO OUR DISTRIBUTION OF WEEKLY NATIONAL OFFICE U PDATES AND PAUL AND TRISH TEAM UPDATES In order to best communicate with NATCA's membership, the NATCA Communications Department is changing the way it distributes the Paul and Trish Team Update and the National Off ice Departmental Week in Review, effectiv e with this update.