A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/788229
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE The House and Senate are in session the week of Feb . 13. As a reminder, Congress has a jam - packed schedule this year and it will be full of legislative activity. TRUMP MEETS WITH AIRLINE & AIRPORT OFFICIALS On Feb . 9, President Trump held a listening session with airline and airport representatives at the White House. The meeting focused on a wide range of av iation issues including air traffic control reform, infrastructure investment, airport security, tax reform, regulatory reform, international c ompetition, and airport noise. FAA REAUTHORIZATION HEARINGS WILL BEGIN ON FEB. 15 On Feb . 15, the House Transpor tation Subcommittee on Aviation held the first of five hearings to begin the dialogue for the next FAA reauthorization bill. The hearing, "Building a 21st Century Infrastructure for America: State of American Manufacturing" focused on the current state of civil aviation manufacturing, including the economic, regulatory, and general health of American civil aviation manufacturing, as well as any challenges being faced. Hearing witnesses include d representatives of the FAA, Boeing Company, Pratt and Whitney, and Textron Aviation. GA staff was in attendance at the hearing and will provide a summary in next week's update. OFFICIAL TIME HEARING The House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Government Operations, chaired by Rep. Mark Meadows (R - NC), w as scheduled to hold a hearing on Feb . 16 regarding the use of official time for union activities at the Department of Veterans Affairs. NATCA GA staff was in attendance at the hearing. FY 18 BUDGET The Administration has stated its intention to submit t he annual Administration federal budget proposal to Congress within the next few weeks. The Trump Administration failed to submit a budget proposal to Congress for the upcoming year by the mandated Feb . 6 deadline, not unusual for the first year of an Admi nistration. Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R - SC), President Trump's pick to direct the Office of Management and Budget, was just confirmed by the Senate on Feb. 16 . While there is no penalty for missing the deadline, the budget sets spending levels in law for the app ropriations committees to begin their work on the 12 appropriations bills. Delays to the budget proposal could further complicate and delay work on spending bills. NATCA Impact : While the Administration's budget does not have the force of law, it serves a s a blueprint for Congress to work on the 12 appropriations bills. NATCA will analyze any budget proposal closely to determine any potential impact on NATCA member pay and benefits. DEBT CEILING DEADLINE With the federal debt nearing its limit and Congre ss unwilling to raise the limit, lawmakers reached a bipartisan budget deal in 2015 (P.L. 114 - 74) that simply suspended the existence of any debt limit until March 15 of this year. That means Congress will need to take action to either raise or suspend the debt limit again to avoid risking a default. However, lawmakers may not have to act by the March 15 date, as the