A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/868391
NATCA Impact While both chambers of Congress and the President have the ability to offer budget proposals, Congress still needs to enact specif ic budget provisions into law. Bud get proposals do not have the force of law, but they do serve as a blueprint for the 12 appropriations bills. That is why NATCA analyzes any budget proposal closely to determine the potential impact on our member pay and benefits. GA continues to work with members of Congress and their staff to address our concerns, with a specific focus on funding for the FAA as well as any changes to fede ral employee pay and benefits. FERS Supplemental NATCA staff and the NLC are focused on the potential that the budget proposal could lead to the elimination of the FERS supplemental retirement payments. The House FY 18 budget resolution (see more below) contains instructions directing House committees to reduce federal spending by a minimum of $203 billion in the next 10 years. Specifically, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee (OGR) was instructed to produce a minimum of $32 billion in cuts. Because of its jurisdiction over a wide - range of federal employee issues, these OGR cuts are expected to come from fe deral employee benefit and retirement programs. Such cuts could include eliminating the FERS supplemental retirement payments, cutting the take - home pay for federal workers who participate in FERS by making them pay substantially higher contributions, or e liminating the FERS defined benefit pension/annuity for new federal employees and transitioning them to a defined contribution retirement system. NATCA will continue to fight against any proposals that could harm or cut the retirement benefits of NATCA mem bers. House & Senate Budgets The House Budget Committee approved the Republican - drafted budget proposal for the FY 18 budget on July 19, 2017. Budget Chairman Diane Black, along with House leadership, have indicated that a vote on the budget proposal is l ikely when Congress returns in September. Click h ere 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 have not seen any proposal. We anticipate that the Senate budge t blueprint will include a so - called reconciliation provision aimed at easing passage for tax reform. The reconciliation process allows Republicans, who hold 52 Senate seats, to advance tax legislation with a simple majority instead of a 60 - vote filibuster proof 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 September 30). Before 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 bill's defense spending allocation would breach budget law, meaning that if it 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 i n the mini - bus, as well as the budget resolution. The House Rules Committee is working to prepare the additional appropriations bills during August recess and we are