A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/788229
U.S. Treasury can take measures to temporarily extend the government's borrowing capacity. APPROPRIATIONS FORECAST The government is current ly operating a continuing resolution (CR) funding measure (P.L. 114 - 254) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 that is set to expire on April 28, 2017. Due to the heavy volume of current legislative business that is pending in the Senate, all indications are that anot her CR will be needed to avoid a government shutdown. Update : Looking forward towards the FY2018 appropriations process, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is already predicting that there will be limited time for consideration of FY 18 appropriations bills this year. The sheer amount of legislative business on the agenda will likely leave little time to complete all 12 regular spending bills needed to fund the government before the start of the new f iscal year on October 1. Government Shutdown Threat : With the curren t CR set to expire on April 28, there is growing concern among lawmakers and staff on Capitol Hill that spending fights over government funding for a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico could lead to the first government shutdown threat of th e Trump administration. The likelihood of a shutdown could increase further if Republicans attach the funding request for a border wall to legislation to keep the government open past April 28. NATCA Impact : The lack of a stable and predictable funding st ream leaves the FAA in financial limbo, and prevents government agencies from starting new projects or adjusting priorities. NATCA GA staff continues to meet with members of Congress and their staff to remind them of the importance of a stable, predictable funding stream, and the consequences of a government shutdown. NATCA GA staff has also been meeting with House and Senate appropriations committee staff as they work towards the next the next funding bill. LEGISLATIVE WATCHLIST In addition to executive a ctions from President Trump, the new Congress is already working on anti - federal employee bills. With Republicans officially in control of the House, Senate, and White House, the number of proposals that would negatively impact federal employees will rise. GA staff has been and will continue preparing to fight these proposals. Parental Leave : Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D - NY) and Barbara Comstock (R - VA) plan to introduce the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2017. This legislation would provide feder al employees six weeks of paid leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child. Sen . Schatz is expected to introduce the same bill on the Senate side. NATCA supports this and has endorsed the legislation. FAIR Act (H.R. 757): Rep. Gerry Connolly (D - VA - 11) is re - introducing the FAIR Act (H.R. 757) in the new 115th Congress. This legislation would propose a 3.2% pay raise in FY 2018 for all federal employees (which includes a pay increase of 2% plus a locality pay adjustme nt of 1.2% for this coming year ) . NATCA supports this and has endorsed the legislation.