A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/898522
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT AT - A - GLANCE • Tax reform is the primary focus for House & Senate leading up to Thanksgiving ; • Possibility of a government shutdown threat on Dec . 8 ; • SSA Annuity issue was not part of the final budget that passed the House & Senate ; • Packed floor schedule means no action on FAA Reauthorization is likely anytime soon CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE The House and Senate are in session for the week of Nov . 6 and will be primarily focused on a tax reform bill, one of Republicans' top legislative priorities. House leadership hopes to have the tax bill passed out of the Ways and Means Committee the week of Nov . 6, followed by a vote on the House floor befo re Thanksgiving. The Senate is still working on their timetable, but hopes to move a tax reform bill out of its respective committee before Thanksgiving. T AX REFORM House Republicans unveiled their plan for tax reform in legislation (H.R. 1) that would i ncrease the annual deficit by nearly $1.5 trillion in the coming decade. The House Ways and Means Committee, w hich is responsible for taxes, wa s expected to begin the markup of the legislation on Nov. 6, and the mark up is expected to continue through Wedn esday or Thursday. Plans for a tax reform bill are still forthcoming in the Senate, but Senate leadership has indicated that they hope to have its markup in the Finance Committee completed before Thanksgiving. Reconciliation Passage of the Congressional budget proposal for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 included "reconciliation instructions." Reconciliation instructions grant Congress the ability to fast - track consideration of tax reform legislation without it being subject to a filibuster in the Senate. By avoidi ng a Senate filibuster, tax reform could potentially be completed before the New Year. NATCA Impact Because the current tax reform proposal would add to the annual deficit, Republicans are looking for "offsets" to help pay for the legislation. NATCA is w orking with congressional leadership and authorizing committees to avoid any cuts that could be harmful to NATCA members. NEXT GOVERNMENT SH UTDOWN THREAT IS DEC. 8 A continuing resolution (CR) is currently in effect to provide government funding for thre e months, until December 8, 2017. With Republicans hoping to complete tax reform by the New Year, lawmakers have limited time to address appropriations. Appropriations Lawmakers have until Dec . 8 to craft a final spending deal for FY 2018. House Republic ans have already 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 little chance of getting a vote in the Senate where Democrats would block consideration