11/02/2011
U.S. House of Representatives Approves Flags for Fallen Civil Servants Bill
SUMMARY: In a vote today, the U.S. House of Representatives Unanimously Approved H.R. 2061, the Civilian Service Recognition Act of 2011.
Today, the House passed H.R. 2061, the Civilian Service Recognition Act of 2011, a bi-partisan measure that allows the heads of executive agencies to authorize the presentation of a U.S. flag to the next of kin of civilian federal employees who are killed while performing official duties, by a vote of 424 to 0.
The bill originally was scheduled for a House floor vote in early September but was pulled back when the main sponsor, Rep. Richard Hanna (R-N.Y.), was delayed in returning to Washington due to severe weather in his home district. At the same time, the American Legion objected to the bill as an attempt to equate civilian and military service and said the measure was unclear on who would qualify, how the flag would be presented, and to whom.
In response to the American Legions objections, the bills language was revised to specify that a flag would go only to the next of kin of a federal employee, and not of a volunteer, killed while performing official duties as a result of natural disaster, a criminal act, terrorism or another incident as declared by the president. The flag will be given to the next of kin or other designee and there will be no military-style burial honors.
A similar bill, S. 1444, is pending action before the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in the Senate. Please contact Jean Hutter in the Legislative Department at Jean.Hutter_NTEU.org if you have any questions.
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11/03/2011
Whistleblower Bill Passes Committee Unanimously
SUMMARY: Today, HR 3289, the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2011, was reported out of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, by unanimous vote.
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee reported out HR 3289, the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2011 today. The vote was unanimous to send the bill to the House floor for final action. There were three successful amendments: one, to rename the bill The Platts-Van Hollen Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act, to acknowledge the seven years of effort on this legislation spearheaded by Representative Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Representative Todd Platts (R-PA); another amendment concerned members of the intelligence community; and the last amendment requires the Government Accountability Office to do a study of agency whistleblower hotlines. NTEU had advocated for an amendment to restore language to the bill on access to jury trials for employees under certain circumstances, but the amendment, offered by Representative Bruce Braley (D-IA), failed on a voice vote. NTEU had also sought an amendment to eliminate MSPB summary judgment authority, but that amendment was not offered. A copy of the letter we sent before mark-up is attached.
Although the bill does not have every reform we sought, on balance it will do a great deal to strengthen whistleblower protection for federal employees. Some of the provisions of the bill are: it closes judicially-created loopholes in the laws protection; it creates specific protection for scientific freedom, making it an abuse of authority to censor, obstruct dissemination, or misrepresent the results of federal research; it provides specific authority for whistleblowers to disclose classified information to members of Congress on relevant committees or their staff; and it provides compensatory damages up to $300,000 and reimbursement for expert witness fees to prevailing whistleblowers. So far, the relevant committees in both the Senate and the House have reported the bill favorably out of the committee. It is not certain when the bills will go to the respective floors for a vote.
Colleen M. Kelley
National President
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06/09/2011
Retirement Contributions Under Attack
SUMMARY: Some in Congress have made proposals to have federal employees contribute more to their retirement annuities with no resulting increase in payout.
Federal employees could be required to contribute additional amounts to their FERS or CSRS retirement accounts amounting to as much as a 6 percent pay cut under proposals being considered as part of the 2012 budget discussions. NTEU strongly opposes these proposals and is working with Congress and the administration to keep them out of any final budget deal.
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05/26/2011
NTEU Submits Testimony on FY 2012 CBP Budget to the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee
RE: NTEU Submits Testimony on FY 2012 CBP Budget to the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee
SUMMARY: NTEU urges the Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee Appropriators to address CBP staffing issues in its FY 2012 appropriations bill.
In testimony submitted to the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, NTEU continues to champion the need to increase CBP staffing at the ports of entry (POEs). NTEU also urged the subcommittee to include in its FY 2012 DHS appropriations bill:
•funding to increase both port security and trade enforcement staffing at the POE;
•full funding of CBP Officers and Agriculture Specialists overtime and premium pay system; and
•funding to extend career ladder pay increases to additional CBP personnel including Import and other Commercial Operations Specialists, CBP Seized Property Specialists, and CBP Technicians.
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