A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/848197
could still happen prior to the beginning of the fiscal year, but the re's no sign yet of negotiations. THUD Bill : The House Appropriations Committee released their fiscal 2018 spending bill for Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) programs on Monday, July 10 and is scheduled to mark up the bil l on Tuesday, July 11 at 7 p.m. As NATCA pushed for, this bill will provide full funding for the FAA Operations account. Included in the bill is a total of $16.6 billion for the FAA, which is $153 million above current funding levels; $10.185 billion for FAA operations , which is an increase of approximately $160 million; and the Facilities and Equipment account is funded at the current level of $2.855 billion. See below for more information on current FAA funding levels. SEPT. 30 SHUTDOWN SCENARIO Lawmakers must pass a funding bill in order to avoid a go vernment shutdown in September. President Trump's Budget Director, Mick Mulvaney, has already 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 determined to avoid a shutdown when current funding expires on Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year. Current FAA Funding : The current FY 2017 spending bill provides $16.4 billion for the FAA. Below ar e 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 that the ATC hiring process is continuous and potentially help mitigate other negativ e 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 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 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. 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. FY 18 BUDGET PROPOSA LS Congress still holds the "purse strings," no matter what is on President Donald Trump's wish list. Congressional "budget resolutions" set a tax and spending framework for Congress to enact annual appropriations bills. See below for details and the statu s 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 budge t 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 : The White House released its FY 2018 budget proposal in May. As expected, the budget calls for an increase in defense sp ending, offset by a decrease