Issues Agenda

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
2008 Legislative Recommendations

I. Investing in the Federal Workforce

• Congress should require that all employees receive at least the average annual pay raise if they meet or exceed performance standards, while standing by the principle of pay parity.

• Congress should pass legislation, H.R.3579/S. 2003, which would allow federal retirees to return to service without penalizing their pension.

• Congress should pass legislation that extends the same benefits to employees in Alaska and Hawaii as other federal employees receive, as recommended in the President’s fiscal year 2009 budget.

• Congress should pass H.R. 82/S. 206 to repeal the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP).

• Congress should pass legislation, H.R. 1110/S. 773, to provide equity in allowing federal retirees to pay their health insurance premiums out of pre-tax dollars.

• Congress should pass legislation, H.R. 1974/S.1166, which provides the same tax benefits to federal civilian employees serving in combat zones as those given to military personnel serving in combat zones.

• Congress should pass legislation, H.R. 1256, to increase the federal government’s share of FEHBP premiums.

II. Federal Workforce Management

• Congress should pass legislation reforming the current sick leave policy for active duty federal employees enrolled in the Federal Employees Retirement System to offer a credit for sick leave time accrued during federal service.

• Congress should pass the fiscal year 2009 appropriations bills before the end of fiscal year 2008 so agencies have the funding they need to plan for the coming year.

• Congress should establish initial and ongoing mandatory training requirements for all supervisors across the federal government as outlined in S. 967.

• Congress should pass legislation, S. 705, which permanently ends the Federal Prison Industries’ (FPI) mandatory-sourcing status across the federal government.

• Congress should pass legislation, H.R. 2363/S.1047, to provide tax-free student loan repayments to federal employees in an effort to recruit and retain a highly skilled civil service workforce.

III. Congressional Oversight

• Congress should continue to scrutinize the implementation of the new personnel system at DOD and other agencies and repeal the authorized waivers of Title V should those systems prove harmful to government management and fail to protect merit system principles.

• FMA supports Congress’ continued oversight and monitoring of agencies’ usage of new management tools in facilitating the recruitment and retention of talented employees.

• Congress should support legislation that would increase the oversight and accountability of competitive sourcing to ensure that public-private competitions represent the best use of taxpayer dollars, including examining the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-76.

• Congress should continue to monitor and improve federal agency participation in telework programs in order to ensure a dynamic and flexible federal workforce.

• Congress should support and ensure consultative agreements between federal agencies and management organizations like FMA as defined under OPM regulations Title V CFR 251.