A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/870884
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE Congress is returning from recess this week with several critical deadlines on the calendar during Sept ember. Lawmakers have until Sept. 29 to raise the nation ' s debt limit to avoid a default, Sept. 30 to pass some kind of spending package to avoid a government shutdown when the new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1, and Sept. 30 to reauthorize the FAA. In addit ion to these deadlines, disaster aid as a result of Hurricane Harvey is also a priority for consideration. NATCA HOSTING ROLLING LOBBY WEEKS ON SSA ANNUITY During the month of September, NATCA will be hosting rolling lobby weeks to educate members of Co ngress about the social security (SSA) annuity supplemental that air traffic controllers receive. The House FY 18 Republican budget resolution (see more below) contains instructions directing House committees to reduce federal spending. Specifically, the H ouse 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 federal employee benefit and retirement programs. Such cuts could include elimination of the SSA annuity that air traffic controllers receive between their age of mandatory retirement and the year they become eligible to receive SSA payment. NATCA will continue to fight against any p roposal that could harm or cut the retirement benefits of NATCA members. CONTINUING RESOLUTION LIKELY Continuing Resolutions (CRs) are often used to bridge the gap between new spending measures to give lawmakers more time to work with the White House and negotiate bipartisan spending agreements. It is becoming increasingly likely that Congress will need pass a CR to keep the government funded at current levels for the beginning of the new fiscal year (FY 18) while lawmakers negotiate a broader agreement. At this time, it is unclear how long the CR would last: it could be as short as a few days, or potentially until December. As a reminder, governm ent funding expires on Sept. 30. GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN POSSIBILITY In August, President Donald Trump issued thr eats to shut down the government if he doesn't secure funding for the U.S. - Mexico border wall in the FY 18 spending bill. However, many members of Congress, including leadership and the conservative "Freedom Caucus," were quick to caution against a governm ent shutdown. If Trump vetoes a CR at the end of this month, a partial government shutdown would begin on Oct. 1. If he agrees to a CR, a government shutdown would be avoided, but the wall funding debate will likely continue into the next round of negotiat ions. That means that a government shutdown isn't off the table for later this year. FAA REAUTHORIZATION C ongress also has until Sept. 30 to reauthorize the FAA. If Congress is unable to enact a long - term FAA reauthorization bill by that date, lawmakers will need to pursue an extension in order to avoid a partial shutdown at the FAA. An extension would put House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Chairman Bill Shuster's proposal to reform air traffic control on hold. While both the House and Senate hav e passed legislation through their respective committees of jurisdiction (H.R. 2997 and S. 1405), neither has been brought to the floor for consideration. So far, Shuster's bill has not received enough votes for