A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/736089
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE : Congress passed a bill to provide funding for the federal government , which averted a government shutdown befor e Sept. 30. Both chambers are now in recess through the November elections. Following elections, a lame duck Congress is expected to be in session during November and December. GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AVERTED : On Wednesday, Sept . 29, Congress passed a Contin uing Resolution (CR) to fund the federal government and avoid a government shutdown ahead of the Sept . 30 deadline, which marked the end of the fiscal year. The deal (H.R. 5325) funds the government until December 9 and provides $1.1 billion to combat the Zika virus and a full year of funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs and military construction projects. The CR did not include money to address the contaminated water system in Flint, Michigan, which had been a sticking point for Democrats. Inste ad, House and Senate leaders promised to provide aid for Flint as part of a water projects bill that is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The CR received bipartisan support and swiftly passed through both chambers. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 72 - 26 and the House passed it by a vote of 342 - 85. In order to speed up the process, the House Rules Committee used a "martial law" provision to allow the bill to come to a vote on the House floor the same day that it passed through the Commi ttee. What's Next: Congress will need to consider another funding bill before the new deadline on December 9. After a month - long struggle to produce the simple CR that just passed through Congress, there are concerns that congressional leaders could have trouble passing another spending bill in the short period of time that they are in session. House Republicans remain divided on the desired course of action. Some prefer to punt any major fiscal decisions until a new president and Congress take office next year. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan would like to pass several fiscal 2017 "minibus" appropriations bills in the lame - duck session after the elections, rather than a large omnibus or short - term CR. NATCA Position : NAT CA continues to advocate for a stable, predictable funding stream. GA staff will continue to meet with congressional staff during recess to advocate in support of the funding levels included in the House and Senate versions of the Transportation, Housing a nd Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bills. Each of those bills would provide adequate funding levels that NATCA advocated for throughout the appropriations process, as opposed to simply continuing current funding levels. As a reminder, a CR does not allow the FAA to plan long - term, so a funding bill that provides new authority is our preference. UPD ATE ON NATCA - SUPPORTED BILLS : S. 3217, legislation to provide for an annuity supplement for full - time air traffic control instructors under contract at the FAA, was introduced in the Senate on July 14, 2016 and is awaiting further consideration. GA worked closely with Sen. Inhofe and Commerce committee staff on this bill. This bill is identical to the House version (H.R. 5785 ) that passed the House on Sep tember 19. We are expecting that the Senate will try to pass this bill during the lame duck session of Congress by unanimous consent. In addition, S. 2683, the FAA Veteran Transition Improvement Act, passed the Senate on September 22, passed the House on September 27, and has been sent to the President's desk where it is expected to be signed into law within the next few days. As a reminder, this bill would expand paid sick leave for veterans hired by the FAA by