House Oversight Democrats Release Priority List for Feds During Coronavirus Response

Chairwoman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, and Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Government Operations, Rep. Gerry Connolly, wrote a letter to House and Senate leadership outlining the priority items needed for federal employees to further facilitate the coronavirus response.

The letter thanks House and Senate leadership for working together on the CARES Act, which included significant funding and assistance for federal agencies responding to COVID-19, but notes the need for further assistance "to help and support the federal employees and contractors who continue to perform their duties and serve the American people.”

Based on “consultation with various stakeholders and federal leaders” Reps. Maloney and Connolly compiled a list of legislative priorities for both contractors and the federal workforce for inclusions in the next coronavirus response package.

The federal workforce priority list includes:

•   Provide childcare and dependent care costs to federal employees who are required to report to their offices.

•   Codify weather and safety leave for federal employees.

•   Clarify that federal employees can work from home with children or ill family members present.

•   Prohibit blanket agency prohibitions on teleworking.

•   Allow federal employees to make health insurance changes when public health emergency declarations occur.

•   Extend health, dental, and vision insurance eligibility to qualifying dependents.

The federal contractor priority list includes:

•   Mandate that agencies allow contractor personnel to telework if their work can be conducted remotely and to provide periodic reports to Congress.

•   Require OMB to issue government-wide guidance on the implementation of Section 3610 of the CARES Act.

•   Direct agencies to utilize advance payments during the coronavirus crisis and expand to all federal contractors current requirements to provide accelerated payments for small businesses.

•   Require OMB to issue guidance directing federal contracting officers to provide for the equitable adjustment of contracts.

•   Ensure contractors are not permanently penalized through adverse performance ratings due to contract disruptions caused by the coronavirus crisis.

While the lawmakers note that these lists do not cover all of the needs of federal employees and contractors during the coronavirus response, the items listed will “provide clarity, improve federal government operations, and help federal workers care for their families during this public health crisis.”