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replace it with its version. During this year's NiW, participants asked their Senators to urge Senate leadership to complete action on a long-term FAA reauthorization bill. Senate Outlook The timeline for Senate consideration of the bill continues to move. McConnell has not indicated that floor time will be available in July for consideration of the FAA bill. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) could also potentially hold up the bill because it is the only legislation moving forward with a tax title and he and other lawmakers may seek to add non-FAA-related tax measures to the bill. Current FAA reauthorization expires Sept. 30. If a long-term bill is not signed into law before then, another extension will be necessary in order to avoid a partial FAA shutdown. Recently, McConnell announced that most of August recess has been canceled for Senators in order to work on judicial nominations and spending bills. The extra time in session could be an opportunity to get the FAA bill done. NATCA Impact NATCA supports H.R. 4, as passed in the House, and has been meeting with staff on the Senate side to urge quick passage of a long-term reauthorization for the FAA. NATCA continues to highlight 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. FY 19 APPROPRIATIONS The government is currently operating under a $1.3 trillion omnibus appropriations bill which provides funding for the federal government for this rest of this fiscal year (FY) 2018. Appropriators have been working on FY 19 appropriations bills quickly in order to advance the spending bills in a timely manner. NATCA Government Affairs staff is continuing to advocate for our funding and policy priorities each step of the way as the appropriations process continues. NATCA GA staff is also working with our allies on Capitol Hill to quickly defeat harmful amendments that are considered throughout the appropriations process. The House and Senate Appropriations Committees have each approved their own versions of Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bills. The chart below shows current and proposed funding levels for FAA programs. FAA BUDGET LINE FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2019 Enacted House THUD Senate THUD Operations $10.2 billion $10.4 billion $10.4 billion Facilities & Equipment $3.25 billion $3.25 billion $3.00 billion Research, Engineering & Development $188.9 billion $180 billion $191 billion Next Steps The House has already passed its first "minibus" of the FY 19 funding process. The first series of appropriations bills included Energy-Water, Military-Construction-VA, and

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