A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/806148
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE Congress is in session during the week of March 27 and will remain in session until a two - week break in mid - April. As a reminder, Congress has a jam - packed schedule this year and it will be full of legislative activity. APRIL 28 SHUTDOWN DEADLINE A political fight over Planned Parenth ood and building a border wall once again threatens to derail a must - pass spending bill needed to avert a partial government shutdown next month. As a reminder, the government is operating on a continuing resolution (CR; P.L. 114 - 254) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 that is set to expire on April 28. It is unclear whether the White House will push a policy rider to the upcoming spending bill that would strip federal funding from the women's health care group. Republicans generally oppose Planned Parenthood, and D emocrats could block a spending bill in the Senate. Stay tuned for updates. Shutdown Threat: An additional threat for a government shutdown comes from the White House. President Trump's request for an extra $33 billion for defense and border security thi s year could set the stage for another fiscal crisis. The additional funding for fiscal 2017 would require revising spending caps agreed to in the 2015 bipartisan budget deal (P.L. 114 - 74). President Trump's request would raise defense spending this year f rom $551 billion to $576 billion, and lower non - defense discretionary spending from $519 billion to $504 billion. The need to readjust spending caps would greatly complicate the task of wrapping up spending legislation for the rest of the fiscal year, si nce Democrats would likely oppose any increase in defense spending without an equivalent increase for nondefense spending. Republicans lack enough votes for a new budget deal in the Senate without cooperation from Democrats. This could cause gridlock as Co ngress gets closer to the April 28 deadline to produce a final spending bill and avoid a partial government shutdown. CR versus Omnibus : All indications are that another CR, an omnibus or a mix of the two will be needed to avoid a government shutdown. Fai lure to pass an omnibus package could result in another stop - gap funding bill that would simply extend current funding levels through September 30. This would leave agencies largely unable to fund any new initiatives or shift funding priorities from those established more than a year ago. NATCA Impact : Congress hasn't completed regular spending bills on time since the mid - 1990s, rely ing often on short - term funding patches that continue funding levels from the previous year without major changes. The lack of a stable and predictable funding stream leaves the FAA in financial limbo, and prevents government agencies such as the FAA 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 funding bill. WHITE HOUSE FY 18 BUDGET PROPOSAL