A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/969432
were angling for the position, Scalise has since thr own his support behind McCarthy to succeed Speaker Ryan as the House GOP leader, assuming McCarthy runs for the leadership position. Scalise would likely bid for the position in the event that McCarthy does not run for the slot. FAA REAUTHORIZATION The omnibus bill recently signed into law included an extension to FAA reauthorization until Sept . 30. Chairman Shuster has conceded that his bill, H.R. 2997, the Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization (AIRR) Act, was unable to reach the necessary le vel of support to come to the House floor for a vote. As such, the House and Senate are working on a new FAA reauthorization proposal to provide long - term authorization for the FAA by the end of September. As a reminder, both the Senate Commerce Committee and the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee will have to reach an agreement on FAA reauthorization. Timeline : House Leadership has tentatively scheduled floor time for consideration of an FAA Reauthorization bill during the last week of April . At this point, the Senate is waiting on action in the House before it moves on a Senate version of the FAA reauthorization bill. NATCA staff continues to work with the House and Senate on a long - term FAA reauthorization bill. NATCA Provisions : The curre nt FAA extension includes two NATCA - supported provisions: first, a fix to current hiring rules that would allow for local preference for new hires in specific areas; and second, a reinstatement of the Retired Military Controllers program. NATCA Impact: N ATCA will continue to engage members of Congress as deliberations continue on a long - term FAA reauthorization bill. NATCA has highlighted the need for a stable, predictable funding stream that adequately supports the following: air traffic control services , staffing, hiring and training, long - term modernization projects, preventative maintenance, ongoing modernization to the physical infrastructure, and the timely implementation of NextGen modernization projects. GOVERNMENT FUNDING President Trump signed into law a $1.3 trillion fiscal 2018 omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 1625) in March to avoid a government shutdown and provide funding for the federal government for this rest of this fiscal year. See the chart below for updated funding levels for FAA pr ograms. Now that a spending bill has been finalized for the rest of this fiscal year, appropriators have begun work on Fiscal Year 2019 spending legislation. FAA BUDGET LINE FY 2018 Enacted Operations $10.2 billion Facilities & Equipment $3.25 billion Research, Engineering & Development $188.9 billion