Top Republican on Senate Banking Committee Seeks Probe Into Potential Civil Service Violations by Biden Administration
Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA), Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, is seeking a probe into potential civil service violations being committed by the Biden administration, specifically at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
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.
Lawmakers introduce TIPS Act to Promote Communication Between Federal Government and Citizens
Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Senator James Lankford (R-OK) recently introduced the Trust in Public Service (TIPS) Act, which would aim to increase citizen trust in the federal government by ensuring all interactions between the public and agencies are effective, easy, and positive.
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.
OPM Director Nominee Faces Senate Hearing
On April 22, 2021, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs held a nominations hearing for Kiran Ahuja, President Biden’s pick to lead the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
Bipartisan Bill Pushes for Greater Leadership Input as Agencies Create Performance Goals
Representatives Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and Jody Hice (R-GA), who lead the House Subcommittee on Government Operations, announced the introduction of the Performance Enhancement Reform Act.
Connolly, Hice Request President Biden Fill Seats on MSPB
In an April 5, 2021 letter to President Joe Biden, Representative Gerald Connolly (D-VA), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, and Representative Jody Hice (R-GA), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, requested that the president nominate qualified board members to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB).
Bills Introduced to Reform Windfall Elimination Provision, Expand Social Security Benefits for Federal Employees
Several lawmakers are pushing for legislation that would expand Social Security benefits for federal retirees and replace the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). The Windfall Elimination Provision reduces the Social Security benefits of retired federal, state, and local government employees who worked in private sector jobs in addition to a government job.
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.
Sunshine Week Hearings and Legislation Promote Government Transparency
Several bills were introduced last week to commemorate Sunshine Week, a national initiative spearheaded by the News Leaders Association to educate the public about the importance of open government.
American Rescue Plan Expands Benefits for Federal Workforce
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package that expands benefits for the federal workforce and Americans.
3.2% Federal Pay Raise Bill Introduced in Senate
Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) formally introduced the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act, which would provide federal workers with a 2.2 percent across-the-board pay increase next year, along with an average 1 percent increase in locality pay. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) introduced companion legislation in the House in January.
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.