A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/835143
APPROPRIATIONS The federal government is currently operating under an omnibus spending bill for the next five months through the remainder of Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 (until September 30). Before then, Congress will need to reconsider all appropriati ons bills for FY 2018. House Republicans are considering an ambitious plan to pass a 12 - bill appropriations package before August. Since lawmakers are already behind on these efforts, they would have to move very quickly to meet this goal before July 31, w hen the summer recess is scheduled to begin. An omnibus of this nature would likely face complications in the Senate, where Democrats will be needed to pass any spending bills for fiscal 2018. As a reminder, this year's "NATCA in Washington" lobby sent our activists to Capitol Hill to request full funding in FY 2018, which will be a priority for us as Congress looks ahead to the next fiscal year. Below is an update on the current FAA funding levels. FAA Funding : The current spending bill provides $16.4 bill ion for the FAA, which is $127 million more than the FY 2016 enacted level. Below are specifics on funding levels for the individual accounts. The funding allows for a two - year carry over in the operations account — a critical adjustment that will ensure t hat the ATC hiring process is continuous and potentially help mitigate other negative effects of sequestration. This one - time funding flexibility will ensure the continuity of operations during the annual transition from one year to the next. $10,025,852 ,000 for the FAA Operations $2,855,000,000 for the FAA Facilities & Equipment $176,500,000 for the FAA Research, Engineering & Development SEPT. 30 SHUTDOWN SCENARIO A government shutdown this fall still isn't getting ruled out as an option by the Trum p administration. President Trump's Budget Director, Mick Mulvaney, defended a shutdown as a potentially useful tool to change the budget process amid frustration with the lag in appropriations bills. But most lawmakers of both parties say they're determin ed to avoid a shutdown when current funding expires on Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year. NATCA Impact: Congress hasn't completed all the regular spending bills on time for any fiscal year since the mid - 1990s, relying often on short - term funding patche s 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 pri orities. FY 18 BUDGET PROPOSALS C ongress still holds the "purse strings," no matter what is on President Donald Trump's wish list. A "budget resolution" sets a tax and spending framework for Congress to enact annual appropriations bills. See below for de tails and the status of budget proposals from the White House, Senate, and U.S. House. If Congress is unable to complete an FY 2018 budget, it would be the second year in a row that Republicans have been unable to unite around a full budget resolution. As a reminder, a budget proposal is not law: it must pass both chambers of Congress and be signed into law before it can go into effect. White House Budget : On Tuesday, May 23, the White House released the FY 2018 budget proposal. As expected, the budget call s for an increase in defense spending, offset by a decrease in discretionary spending. Click here to view a message that NATCA President Paul Rinaldi and EVP Trish Gilbert sent out to the membership.