NATCA Bookshelf

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 shutdown when fiscal 2016 spending expires on September 30. With members of Congress scheduled to be in town for only a few weeks before the deadline, there is growing concern about whether or not a government shutdown will be averted. While it is unlikely that Congress would entertain a government shutdown during an election year, there are no guarantees. Potential Paths Forward: Congress will likely delay the completion of FY17 spending bills until next year, leaving government agencies in financial limbo for a good part of the year. This is often the case during election years and the lame-duck sessions following those elections. One option would be to delay fiscal 2017 spending consideration until the new Congress and administration. This would mean a short-term CR. Another option would be to pass an even shorter CR that would expire before the end of the calendar year. GA will keep you updated on the path forward. THUD Funding: The House and Senate Appropriations Committees have each passed their respective versions of the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bills. The Senate THUD spending bill, if enacted, would provide $16.4 billion for the FAA, which is $131.6 million above the FY2016 enacted 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. It is unclear whether either chamber will consider a THUD measure when Congress returns after Labor Day. Background: As a reminder, there are 12 spending bills for both chambers to complete in order to fund the government before FY17 starts on October 1. Without that, a CR will need to be enacted to keep the government open. NATCA GA staff focuses on 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, Legislative Branch, Energy-Water, Defense, Financial Services, and Interior- Environment appropriations bills, while the Senate has passed THUD, Mil-Con VA, and the Energy-Water bills. NEXT STEPS FOR FAA REAUTHORIZATION: As a reminder, President Obama signed the third FAA extension into law on Friday, July 15. This extension (H. Res. 818, the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016) will continue funding 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. Addressing Controller Staffing: As you know, the FAA extension addresses the controller staffing crisis. It includes language that will streamline 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 since NATCA in Washington (NiW) this past May. With this legislation signed into law, the responsibility

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