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.
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.
Lawmakers Push for More Vaccines for Federal Workforce
In a letter to Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Acting Director Kathleen McGettigan and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky, several Democratic lawmakers from the National Capital Region, including Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) and Del. Eleanor Norton Holmes (D-DC), have requested that the federal government allocate vaccines for federal employees, especially those in the National Capital Region of Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland.
New COVID-19 Relief Package Would Expand Benefits for Feds
The House Democrats have released the latest iteration of their COVID-19 relief package, including a provision to expand benefits for federal workers. The bill offers up to 600 hours of paid leave for those who have COVID-19 or are caring for someone who does. This time off can also be applied to parents whose children are learning from home and require supervision. This leave can be used through September 30, 2021.
TSA Employees Would Receive Expanded Work Protections Under Proposed Act
Leading House Democrats on the Homeland Security, Appropriations, and Transportation Committees re-introduced the Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act of 2021 in Congress. The bill, passed twice by the House in the 116th Congress, would expand workforce protections for employees of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
New Legislation Calls for Expanded Paid Leave for Feds
House Committee on Oversight and Reform Chairwoman Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) recently introduced the Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act, which would provide 12 weeks of paid leave every year to all federal workers to deal with personal illness, care for a family member with illness, or in connection with a family member going on or returning from active military duty.