A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/889675
NATCA Impact : Elimination of the SSA Annuity Supplement could negatively affect retirement and the current staffing levels for air traffic controllers, which are at a 28 - year low. APPROPRIATIONS & SEQUESTRATION A continuing resolution (CR) is currently in effect to provide government funding for t hree months, until Dec . 8, 2017. See below for more information on FAA funding, sequestration, and the possibility of a government shutdown later this year. Appropriations : With a CR now in place through December, lawmakers have more time to craft a fin al spending deal for FY 2018. House Republicans have passed a $1.23 trillion catchall spending package (H.R. 3354) that would fund the government for the new fiscal year, but the bill stands almost no chance of going anywhere in the Senate where Democrats would block consideration. The package bundled together the 12 annual appropriations bills and is mainly being used as political messaging at this point, claiming that this is the first time the House has passed all 12 funding bills on time since 2009. H owever, it has no chance of becoming law by the new fiscal year and it is not considered "on budget," since it violates the deficit - cutting law (P.L. 112 - 25) by exceeding the cap for defense spending. If it were to become law (which, as mentioned, is highl y unlikely), the legislation would trigger across - the - board spending cuts to military programs, known as sequester. Sequestration Cuts : As part of the current CR, there will be no sequestration trigger during this funding period (through Dec . 8). As a re minder, the Budget Control Act (P.L. 112 - 25) imposed limits on spending through FY 2021 in an effort to curb mounting deficits, but it has faced growing criticism on Capitol Hill even among Republican lawmakers. The across - the - board spending cuts, known as sequester, have been eased over the years through bipartisan budget deals that have allowed for higher spending limits. But a growing number of lawmakers are advocating for a permanent or longer - term fix. Congress now has until December to figure out whet her spending caps should be raised or abolished. Government Shutdown Possibility : In August, President Donald Trump issued threats to shut down the government if he is unable to secure funding for the U.S. - Mexico border wall in the FY 2018 spending bill. The wall funding debate will likely come up again during negotiations leading into December on a final spending bill. That means that a government shutdown isn't off the table for later this year. FAA Funding : NATCA has continuously advocated for full f unding for the FAA in our relevant Congressional appropriations bills (the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill, "THUD"). For FY 2018, the House has already passed its version of THUD funding, which would increase funding for t he 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 proposed FY 2018 spending levels for the FAA are as follows: