House Passes NDAA with Pentagon Budget of $840.2 Billion
The House of Representatives passed last week its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year (FY) 2023 by a vote of 329-101.
Houses Passes Most Significant Postal Reform in 20 Years, Moves to Senate
The House approved the Postal Reform Act (H.R. 3076) with a vote of 342 to 92—a bipartisan bill that would overhaul the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and address non postal services within federal agencies.
House Passes PODA, Aims at Preventing Executive Overreach
A package of reforms approved by the House will protect federal civil servants, bolster agency watchdog programs, and limit temporary appointments to federal positions. The measure passed on a tight party-line vote of 220 to 208, with Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) as the lone Republican voting in favor of the bill.
House Lawmakers Encourage VA to Expand Recruiting Capabilities, Urge Lead on Medical Innovation
House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) and Ranking Member Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL) proposed legislation that aims to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) ability to produce medical advancements.
Lawmakers and Congressional Staff Seek Demographic Data Collection to Close Equity Gaps
Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) co-authored a letter to Ambassador Susan Rice, Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, and Shalanda Young, Acting Director Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The letter speaks to the importance of equal opportunity for minority groups and racial equity within the federal government, stressing progress of either requires agencies collect demographic data of employees and applicants.
Proposed Appropriations Bill Tackles DoD Personnel Management
The 2022 Department of Defense (DoD) appropriations bill from the House Committee on Appropriations addresses a number of concerns surrounding DoD’s recruitment and retention efforts. According to appropriators, the Department of Defense needs help filling employment vacancies surrounding career and technical education (CTE) and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in order to remain competitive with its counterparts in China and Russia.
Bipartisan Bill to Create Data Science Jobs in the Federal Government
Representative Jay Obernolte (R-CA) introduced H.R. 3533, the Federal Career Opportunities in Computer Science Work Act, which would establish career pathways in computer science within the federal government.
Former Temporary Workers Could Catch Up on Pension Contributions Under Proposed Bill
Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Tom Cole (R-OK) recently introduced a bipartisan piece of legislation titled the Federal Retirement Fairness Act. This legislation would allow employees enrolled in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) who initially entered government as temporary workers to make catch-up retirement contributions to cover for the years when they were temps.
House Appropriators Release Draft Funding Bill, Endorse 2.7 Percent Pay Raise
The House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government advanced a draft bill that makes no mention of a federal pay raise for General Schedule employees. Thus, the legislation effectively endorses President Biden’s proposed 2.7 percent average federal civilian pay raise.
Appropriations Update: Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Predicts Continuing Resolutions, Democrats Propose Spending Ceiling
House Democrats proposed a resolution that would allow for $1.5 trillion in discretionary funding for FY 2022. Meanwhile, Republican Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Richard Shelby (R-AL) has predicted stopgap measures will be necessary to avert a shutdown while negotiations continue.
Postal Service Reform Act Could Raise Health Insurance Premiums for Federal Workforce
The Postal Service Reform Act of 2021, introduced in the House by House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Ranking Member James Comer (R-KY), could raise health insurance costs for both employees and retirees in the federal workforce. A Senate companion bill was also introduced by Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Gary Peters (D-MI) and Ranking Member Rob Portman (R-OH).
Republican, Democrat Lawmakers Offer Opposing Views on How to Bring Federal Employees Back into Office
In a May 18, 2021 letter to Kathleen McGettigan, Acting Director at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Representative Jody Hice (R-GA) called for federal employees to return to in-person work as soon as possible. On the contrary, Representative Gerry Connolly (D-VA) argued in his own letter that agencies must proceed with caution surrounding reopening to prevent harm to the federal workforce.
House Committee Clears Good Government Bills Impacting Feds, Postal Employees
During a business meeting on Thursday, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform advanced six ‘good government’ bills. The legislation includes four federal workforce and government oversight packages and two items specific to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).
House Democrats Push for TSA Screeners to Receive Title 5 Employment Protections
In a House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Marine Security hearing on May 4, Democrats urged their colleagues to support legislation that would extend Title 5 employment protections to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screeners.
House Leadership Calls for Increase in Staff Pay
House leaders are calling for a 20 percent increase in funding for Members’ Representational Allowances (MRAs), committees, and leadership offices to increase staff pay. On April 28, 2021, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) sent a letter to appropriators making the case for the requested increase.
Republican Lawmakers Call for Greater Investments in Government Innovations
The Securing American Leadership in Science and Technology Act, or SALSTA, was introduced March 23, 2021 by House Science, Space and Technology Committee Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK) and several other Republican lawmakers.
Bipartisan Bill Would Revitalize the State Department Workforce
The 2021 State Department Authorization Act (H.R. 1157) is a bipartisan measure that would work to revitalize the Department of State by increasing hiring, retention, and bonuses. The act aims to improve the workforce at the State Department by providing broad guidelines on how to improve the department's foreign service and civil servants.
House Democrats Attempt to Bring Back Congressional Earmarks
House Democrats have moved to restart the use of earmarks in an effort to prevent Congressional gridlock and pass legislation more effectively. This move would alter how Congress allocates $1.4 trillion in discretionary funding. Earmarks allow members of Congress to itemize funds in appropriations packages for specific programs and projects in their district. Earmarks have been banned since 2011.