Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Bill tracker: Proposals affecting federal employee pay, benefits

Want to see what Congress is proposing that will affect Federal Employees? 
the first couple of these are brutal. The others okay. The comments in ITALICS about what will harm and benefit federal employees is not my opinion, it's from the Federal News Radio Website. - Rob

Bill tracker: Proposals affecting fed pay, benefits
March 24, 2011 - 11:27am  SOURCE: FEDERAL NEWS RADIO

Several bills making their way through Congress take aim at federal employees' pay and benefits as a way to tighten the government's budget belt.
Feds already face a two-year pay freeze. A couple of the proposals would extend that freeze beyond 2012.
If some of these measures are passed, federal employees could also face staff cuts and unpaid furloughs.
Also included on this list are bills that, if passed, will help federal employees.
This page will be regularly updated. Check back for status changes and the addition of new bills.
(Last updated on April 12.)
Bills that will harm federal employees.
Impact on feds
Description
Bill/Sponsor(s)
Status
3-YEAR PAY FREEZE

WORKFORCE CUTS
- Extends the federal pay freeze for another year, through fiscal year 2013. This means your pay would remain at fiscal year 2010 levels through Sept. 30, 2013.
- Cuts federal workforce by 10 percent no later than October 1, 2020.
H.R.235
Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas)
Introduced in House on Jan. 7, 2011.
FURLOUGH
Requires federal employees to take two weeks of mandatory, unpaid furlough during fiscal year 2012.
Read full story.
H.R.270
Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.)
Introduced in House on Jan. 12, 2011.
5-YEAR PAY FREEZE

WORKFORCE CUTS

SPENDING FREEZE
- Cuts federal workforce by 15 percent.
- Freezes federal pay through fiscal year 2015.
- Freezes non-discretionary spending at 2008 levels through fiscal year 2021.
H.R.408/S.178
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.)
Introduced in House on Jan. 24, 2011, and in Senate on Jan. 25, 2011.
PENSION CUTS
Ends defined benefits pension portion for new hires starting in 2013. The Thrift Savings Plan and retirement benefits will not be affected by this bill.
Read full story.
S.644
Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.)
Introduced in Senate on March 17, 2011.
SPENDING CUTS
Cuts spending by $500 billion in fiscal year 2011. Among the agencies that would see appropriations cuts under this bill are Defense, Homeland Security, Commerce, Health and Human Services, Energy, National Institutes of Health and more. Some programs would be entirely defunded, including the Government Printing Office, all Department of Education programs, except the Pell grant program, and all Department of Housing and Urban Development programs, except veteran housing programs.
S.162
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.)
Introduced to Senate on Jan. 25, 2011
REMOVAL OF DOD RAISES FOR BAD PERFORMANCE
Restricts the payout of annual adjustment and locality pay for civilian DoD employees performing "unsatisfactory work." West says the bill would generate approximately $21 million in savings while increasing productivity in the workforce. "As employees become more satisfactory in future years, the savings would be approximately $80 million through FY16," according to West's website.
H.R.1248
Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.)
Introduced in the House on March 29, 2011.
EXTENDS PROBATIONARY PERIOD TO 2 YEARS
Extends probationary period for new hires to at least two years. Two-year probationary period also applies to an employee who has been transferred, promoted, demoted, reassigned or appointed to a new position.
H.R.1470
Rep. Dennis Rosee (R-Fla.)
Introduced in House on April 8, 2011.
Bills that will help federal employees.
PROTECT MILITARY PAY IN SHUTDOWN
The bill ensures both active-duty and reserve military personnel are paid on time if there is a shutdown. A DoD memo states all military personnel would have to work without pay in a shutdown until Congress makes appropriations to pay military personnel for the time worked.
Read full story.
H.R.1297
Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas)
Introduced in House on March 31, 2011.
REDUCE DRUG COSTS
- Requires greater transparency over pharmacy benefit managers in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP).
- Prohibits a drug carrier from paying a pharmacy benefit manager more than the average manufacturer's price for any drug.
Read full story.
H.R.979
Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.)
Introduced in House on March 9, 2011.
TELEWORK TAX CREDIT
Provides a tax credit, up to $1,000 per year, for teleworking expenses.
Read full story.
H.R.710
Rep. Robert Whitman (R-Va.)
Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means on Feb. 15, 2011.
CHANGES FEGLI PAYMENTS TO LUMP-SUM
Changes the default payments for the Federal Employees Life Insurance Program (FEGLI) to a lump-sum. The bill responds to concerns that the current payments to beneficiaries are put into accounts that are not federally insured.
Read the full story.
H.R.48
Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.)
Introduced in House on Jan. 5, 2011
MORE FEDERAL PROTECTIVE SERVICE STAFF, TRAINING
Hires 150 more Federal Protective Service guards. Maintains a minimum of 1,200 FPS guards. Increases resources for training. Maintains assessment program for contracted FPS guards.
Read the full story.
S.722
Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.)
Introduced in Senate on April 8, 2011
PROVIDES TRAINING FOR FEDERAL MANAGERS
Requires the head of each agency to establish a training program for supervisors. New supervisors must complete a training program within one year of appointment and supervisor must complete a program every three years.
Read the full story.
S.674
Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii)
Introduced in Senate on April 12, 2011

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