To Omnibus or Not - That is the Question
A December 11, 2015, deadline looms before the current Federal funding patch, or Continuing Resolution (CR), expires. Closed-door negotiations are already well underway on a giant omnibus bill with a price tag that is expected to be nearly $1.15 trillion.
With that top-level budget deal now the law of the land, work has begun by House and Senate Appropriations Committee leadership on a fiscal year 2016 spending bill (or bills) to fund the federal government after the December 11th deadline. The next important step in the appropriations process will be taken by House and Senate appropriations subcommittee chairs and full committee chairs, as they divvy up the $33 billion in non-defense discretionary (NDD) sequestration relief across the 12 appropriations subcommittees.
Despite the triumph of October's budget deal, there are three options for lawmakers to consider before they can go home for the holidays: (1) pass a real bill that funds the government for the rest of fiscal year 2016, (2) punt to another short-term extension, another CR or (3) deal with the consequences of a shutdown.
It is important to note that the threat of a federal government shutdown (Option 3 above) still looms large. The President has made it clear he will not sign legislation that contains harmful "policy riders" that undermine his priorities. And, while all 187 Democrats and 79 Republicans in the House of Representatives voted in favor of the Bipartisan Budget Act in late October, a significantly large number of Republicans in the House of Representatives voted against it, signaling they may not support an omnibus bill.
If Option 2 is chosen, a CR often funds programs at the level of the previous fiscal year's appropriations, or the President's budget request, or at the level of the bill either the House or the Senate passed for the current fiscal year, whichever is lower.
For SRS, due to the temporary nature of most CRs, it is difficult to plan operational work beyond the specific time limits of the funding. Work slows down because of the lack of definitive funding and inability to plan toward a specific budget. In addition, a CR is difficult on the current SRS workforce. It creates uncertainty and stress. It is particularly hard in attracting and recruiting the next generation workforce. Most all workers are looking for some type of job sustainability. A CR just does not provide that.
SRS missions and its workforce are better served when Congress passes a budget. So, let's hope our Congressmen work together to make sure Option 1 (pass a real bill that funds the government for the rest of fiscal year 2016) is the answer. It would help ensure "happy" was included in the holidays, as far as SRS is concerned.
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oined business and industry leaders on November 16, 2015 at Grovetown High School to discuss the future workforce needed in Georgia and throughout the region. The event was one of several held across the state in connection with Partners Educating Georgia's Future Workforce Initiative and the Georgia Department of Education. In Georgia, education and workforce development has been identified as a primary factor impacting economic development. 
A panel discussion highlighted the day, featuring industry and education representatives. Industry panel members emphasized their views on current workforce development needs along with initial steps they are taking to address the issues. Panel members commented on ways that industry is becoming more involved in education at an early age by visiting schools and providing internships and job shadowing experiences to older students. Panelists discussed a variety of common workforce challenges that face the region. Attracting and retaining new workers and aligning education programs with workforce needs are long-term issues that will require broad collaboration to resolve.
Michael D. (Mike) Johnson has been named Executive Director of the Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness (CNTA). Mike replaces Dr. Clint Wolfe, who has been appointed Director Emeritus of the organization. Dr. Wolfe had been CNTA's Executive Director since 2008. 