A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/706293
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE : Lawmakers are officially off for their seven - week summer recess. Both chambers will return after Labor Day for the month of September and then recess again for election season. During the summer break, the Republican an d Democratic Conventions will take place in Cleveland and Philadelphia, respectively. FAA EXTENSION SIGNED INTO LAW : On Monday, July 11, the House passed an FAA extension by voice vote. The Senate cleared the measure on Wednesday, July 13 and it was sign ed into law by President Obama on Friday, July 15. As a reminder, an extension had to be passed and signed into law by July 15 to avoid a shutdown at the FAA. This extension (H. Res. 818, the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016) will continue f unding for the FAA through Fiscal Year (FY) 2017, providing the stable and predictable funding stream that the NAS requires in the meantime. To read NATCA's press release on the FAA extension, please click here . Win for NATCA : The FAA extension addresses the controller staffing crisis, including language that will strea mline the hiring process and ensure a path for Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) students and military Veterans. The language is nearly identical to H.R. 5292, the Air Traffic Controller Hiring Improvement Act, which NATCA has been urging support for si nce NATCA in Washington (Ni W) this past May. When it became likely that a long - term, comprehensive FAA bill would be delayed, NATCA immediately engaged to identify another legislative path forward to address the contr oller staffing crisis. During Ni W, 400 NATCAvists flooded Capitol Hill to urge support of the bill and, in just two months, the bill garnered 250 bipartisan cosponsors. The overwhelming support in the House of Representatives for H.R. 5292 provided the necessary push that NATCA needed to succes sfully advocate for inclusion of the language in the FAA extension. This team effort from NATCA's leadership, Legislative Committee, activists, and GA department led to a big win for NATCA. Duration of Extension : As noted above, the extension will last un til the end of September 2017. During discussions leading up to passage of the extension, NATCA advocated for a long - term extension lasting one year or more, and succeeded with this 14 - month extension. While this is a good start, NATCA still prefers a full , long - term FAA reauthorization that would end sequest ration and stop - and - go funding. Looking Ahead : Chairman Shuster of the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee continues to advocate for a long - term, comprehensive FAA bill while the 14 - month extension is in place. NATCA will continue to work with the relevant committees in the House and Senate to address our prioritie s for a comprehensive FAA bill. FAA Reform Background : As a reminder, in April, the Senate passed its version of long - term FAA reauthorization legislation (H.R. 636), which would reauthorize the FAA through FY 2017. In the House, the T&I Committee approved H.R. 4441 in February, which includes air traffic control reform, but that legislation has yet to come to the House floor for a vote. House Democrats have been unified in their opposition against separating ATC 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 Freedom Caucus. WILL A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN BE AVERTED IN SEPTEMBER ?: So far, lawmakers have managed to sign zero appropriations bills into law this year, and a stopgap spending measure will likely be needed in September to avoid a government