in discretionary spending. Click here to view a message that NATCA President Rinaldi
and EVP Gilbert sent out to the membership.
Ho use & Senate Budgets : It remains unknown whether Republicans can agree on a
budget resolution that would pave the way for a tax code overhaul and offer a blueprint
for ending deficits in the next 10 years. The House Budget Committee has struggled to
produc e its resolution, but has yet to reach a firm agreement to proceed. The
committee's plan calls for violating a 2011 deficit - cutting law (P.L. 112 - 25) that imposed
a $549 billion cap on defense spending for the upcoming fiscal year. But lifting the cap
woul d require passing a bipartisan budget deal setting new limits on discretionary
spending. Under the proposed, discretionary spending would fall $5 billion below the
current cap while avoiding most of the deep cuts to those programs proposed by the
Trump adm inistration. House Budget Committee Chairwoman Diane Black is hoping to
complete committee action on the budget plan soon. So far, there has been no word of a
budget proposal on the Senate side.
NATCA Impact : As a reminder, while both chambers of Congres s and the President
have the ability to offer budget proposals, Congress still needs to enact any budget
proposal into law. The unpopularity of the President's budget will likely make it even
harder to reach spending and budget deals during FY 2018. While budget proposals do
not have the force of law, they serve as a blueprint for the 12 appropriations bills.
NATCA will analyze any budget proposal closely to determine any potential impact on
our member pay and benefits. GA continues to work with members of Congress and
their staff on this issue, with a specific focus on appropriations for the FAA.
LEGISLATIVE WATCHLIST
In addition to executive actions from President Trump, Congress is already working to
advance anti - federal employee bills, including those that would attack the use of official
time. 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 fig ht these proposals.
