A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/860752
September. Click here to view NATCA's press release on the House budget resolution. In the Senate, it's possible the Senate Budget Committee could mark up an FY 18 budget resolution in September, but so far we ha ve not seen any proposal. We expect that the Senate budget blueprint will include a so - called reconciliation provision aimed at easing passage of a tax code overhaul. The reconciliation process allows Republicans, who hold 52 Senate seats, to advance tax l egislation with a simple majority instead of a 60 - vote threshold. APPROPRIATIONS & POSSIBLE SEQUESTRATION CUTS The federal government is currently operating under an omnibus spending bill through the remainder of Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 (until Sept . 30). Be fore adjourning for recess, the House passed a "mini - bus" that included appropriations bills for Defense, Energy - Water, Military Construction - VA and the Legislative Branch. The next steps for the legislation are unclear because its defense spending allocat ion would breach budget law and it is also unlikely to pass the Senate. If the mini - bus were to be enacted without a new budget deal, its spending levels would trigger automatic spending cuts known as sequestration. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy has said that when the House returns in September it will vote on the remaining eight annual spending bills, which weren't included in the mini - bus, as well as the budget resolution (more on that below). FAA Funding : NATCA has continuously advocated for full funding for the FAA in our relevant Congressional appropriations bills (the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill, "THUD"). The full House has already passed its version of THUD funding, which would increase funding for the FAA . The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved its version of the THUD bill, which would also provide an increase for the FAA, although the legislation has not come to the Senate floor for a vote yet. The current FY 17 spending levels for the FAA are a s follows: $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 Government Shutdown Possibility : With Congress in recess for August, there will only be a few weeks when they return before the n ew fiscal year begins on Oct. 1. Upon their return, members of Congress and the White House will be under immense pressure to complete a spending bill to avoid a government shutdown at the end of September. The curre nt strategy is for the House to take up the eight remaining fiscal 2018 appropriations bills in a single, massive package when Congress returns from recess in September. GA staff will continue to work with congressional staff and keep you updated on the po ssibility of any type of government shutdown. NATCA Impact : Congress hasn't completed all 12 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 previou s 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 W ashington" 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. FAA REAUTHORIZATION E XTENTION EXPECTED IN SEPTEMBER