A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/719223
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE : Lawmakers have only a couple more weeks of recess before returning to Washington, D.C. , after Labor Day on Sep t. 6. After the month - long session in September, Congress will then recess again for election season, so we are also looking ahead to a "lame - duck" Congress after the elections on Nov . 8. Government Affairs (GA) staff is laying the groundwork to address a Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the government open when the fisc al year ends on Sept . 30. LAME DUCK CONGRESS : A "lame duck Congress" describes the period between the November elections and the beginning of the next Congressional session in January. We can expect Congress to be in a lame duck session for parts of Nove mber and December. It is important to remember that some lawmakers who return for this lame duck session will not be members of Congress when the 115th Congress is sworn - in in January. SPENDING BATTLES LIE AHEAD: Lawmakers' top priority in September will be to prevent a government shutdown. Government funding currently runs through Sept . 30. Congress is expected to use a temporary stopgap measure, such as a CR, to avoid a lapse in spending authority, but nothing is certain at this point. While it is unlike ly that Congress would entertain a government shutdown during an election year, there are no guarantees. In a new report, the Congressional Budget Office increased its estimate of the deficit for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016. These warnings of a rising deficit co uld complicate efforts to craft a stopgap spending measure to avoid a government shutdown when the new fiscal year begins on Oct . 1. It could lead to disagreements among lawmakers about the overall level of discretionary spending. LOOKING AHEAD TO 115TH CONGRESS : While we are focused on the September session and the lame duck session that will follow, NATCA GA staff is already looking ahead to the new 115th Congress that will convene in January. There will be new members elected to the House and Senate fo llowing the November elections, so it will be important to introduce them to NATCA's issues as early as possible. GA will be preparing material for visits to new members' offices on the first day they are sworn in. While the Congressional calendar is still being finalized for next year, we can expect members of Congress to start the new session in the beginning of January.