This report provides an update on issues affecting federal managers. As always, I encourage you to visit www.fedmanagers.org on a regular basis for more information on these and other matters.

Also, be sure to look for the monthly FMA Grassroots Update, where we offer links to action letters and FMA-PAC matters we do not address in the Washington Report. The grassroots newsletter is sent exclusively to non-governmental email addresses to avoid any Hatch Act violations. If you are not receiving it, contact the national office to provide your non-governmental email address.

Please feel free to provide feedback any time by emailing Greg Stanford at gstanford@fedmanagers.org or by calling the National Office at (703) 683-8700. Thank you for your membership in FMA. It’s an honor to represent your interests before Congress and the administration.

President Joe Biden signed a Continuing Resolution (CR) into law on Saturday, September 30, narrowly averting a government shutdown and keeping government open through November 17, 2023. Federal Managers Association (FMA) National President Craig Carter wrote every member of the House and Senate to urge them to prevent a shutdown and expressed relief in a statement following the CR’s passage and signature into law.

However, Carter noted the toll it takes on federal managers and the country when legislators consistently come to the brink of a government shutdown. "In recent weeks, federal managers have been preparing for a potential shutdown, wasting precious time and resources,” Carter wrote. “Delaying appropriations and flirting with government shutdowns results in egregious costs and waste, even if a shutdown is averted. It takes significant time and resources for agencies to prepare for a potential shutdown. Private sector businesses would never manage their budgets this way, and neither should Congress.”

The House of Representatives voted to vacate the office of the Speaker on Tuesday, October 3, in a historic 216-210 vote, removing Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) from the position. Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) is serving as Speaker Pro Tempore until the House elects a new Speaker.

The House went into recess for the remainder of the legislative week, and will begin the process of electing a new Speaker of the House during the week of October 9. Most analysts expect this process to be contentious and could potentially take many weeks to resolve. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) are among those vying to replace Rep. McCarthy as Speaker. McCarthy announced he will not seek reelection.

For 62 consecutive years, Congress has come together on a bipartisan basis to pass the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Fiscal Year 2024 NDAA faces a number of challenges as conferees from the House and Senate work to iron out the differences between their two versions to get it to President Biden’s desk.

The Senate version had a straightforward path. The Senate Armed Services Committee advanced it by a vote of 24-1 and the full Senate approved the measure by a strong bipartisan vote of 86-11. The House version is a different story entirely. The bill was largely non-controversial as considered by the House Armed Services Committee and passed by a vote of 58-1. However, it was amended on the floor of the House and passed by a narrow, party-line vote of 219-210. The House adopted a number of amendments on the House floor related to abortion, transgender health care and diversity and inclusion that eroded support from House Democrats.

On October 4, Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Government Operations and Border Management, reintroduced legislation (S. 3029) that would increase death gratuities and funeral allowances for federal employees. FMA endorsed this bipartisan legislation, which is cosponsored by Sens. Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Josh Hawley (R-MO).

On September 20, the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability approved the Cannabis Users Restoration of Eligibility (CURE) Act (H.R. 5040) by a vote of 30-14, advancing the bill for consideration by the full House of Representatives. The bipartisan bill, sponsored by Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), would prevent prior marijuana use from becoming grounds for being found unsuitable for federal employment or failing to receive security clearance. The bill is also cosponsored by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR).

“The CURE Act will also allow for someone who has previously been denied a security clearance or a federal job opportunity based on marijuana use the chance to have that denial reviewed,” Raskin said in a statement. “The bipartisan passage of the CURE Act through the Oversight Committee moves the federal government towards recognizing the widely established legal use of medical and recreational cannabis,” Raskin said.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) recently announced the 2024 Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program rates. The open season for health benefits, dental and vision insurance, and flexible spending accounts will be November 13 through December 11, 2023.

The average enrollee share increase for 2024 will be 7.7 percent. The overall average FEHB premium increase will be 5.8 percent. The new health premiums go into effect January 1, 2024.

The average premium increase for dental plans for 2024 is 1.4 percent, and the average premium increase for vision plans is 1.1 percent.

In March, OPM launched a Retirement Quick Guide that shares what feds can expect through the retirement application process, how benefits are determined, and guidelines related to their interim and annuity payments. You can also view a three-page printable PDF version of the quick guide here: https://www.opm.gov/retirement-center/retirement-quick-guide/opm-retirement-quick-guide.pdf.

Lori Amos, Deputy Associate Director for OPM’s Retirement Services, recently commented on the progress made in 2023 on reducing the total number of outstanding retirement claims and new tools OPM has for prospective retirees. “This guide is our attempt to improve customer experience. We have put a lot of work, time, and effort based on feedback that we have received from our retiree community. Our goal is to be able to give [federal employees and retirees] information about the voluntary retirement process.”

In late September, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) proposed a new rule aimed at protecting merit system principles across the federal government. All comments are due on or before November 17, 2023. OPM briefed FMA National President Craig Carter and the national office staff on the proposed rules, and FMA plans to provide comments in support. Additionally, you are invited to comment directly to OPM if you are inclined to do so.

Below is a brief summary of the proposed rule, which helps ensure due process for civil servants:

Proposed Rule: 5 CFR Parts 210, 212, 213, 302, 432, 451, and 752 – OPM is proposing a rule to reinforce and clarify longstanding civil service protections and merit system principles, codified in law, as they relate to the movement of federal employees and positions from the competitive service to the excepted service, or from one excepted service schedule to another.

Regions 3 and 4 conducted their annual joint conference this year at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe in Stateline, Nevada, September 29-30. Chapters represented were Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington, Travis Air Force Base, California, and Naval Weapons Station, Concord, California. Located on the shore of Lake Tahoe, the hotel offered spectacular views of the lake and mountains, with snow arriving overnight on the peaks. The conference kicked off with a reception in a room formerly used by the famous Rat Pack when in town. Though there was no sign of Frank Sinatra or Sammy Davis Jr., it was easy to imagine them relaxing and enjoying themselves in the corner room with amazing scenery. The FMA members and spouses enjoyed good food and refreshments and happily caught up with one another.

On Saturday, the conference began with introductions by each of the chapter leaders in attendance. FMA President Emeritus Pat Niehaus then presented on her experience of recently going through the retirement process and offering insights into how to best prepare and maneuver to ensure the smoothest experience possible. This process ideally starts years in advance of a retirement target date. Johnny Gottstein, president of GPIS Federal Benefits Specialist, provided an outstanding overview of federal employee life insurance options, giving everyone in attendance a lot to think about, and with more confidence to improve their current coverage and plan.

The FMA Regions 1 & 2 Conference is quickly approaching, October 20-22, 2022, at the Doubletree Hilton in Manchester, New Hampshire. Please join your FMA colleagues from throughout Regions 1 and 2 for a great networking opportunity!

Contact Region 1 Director Jeremy Barton Sr. for more information.

FMA is a long-time supporter and board member of the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund (FEEA). We support their mission of “Feds Helping Feds,” and conduct FMA’s Scholarship Program through FEEA, which allows for many more award opportunities for FMA members and their families. At this time, we are excited to share an opportunity for recognition within the federal community from our friends at FEEA. They are unveiling a new chapter in their Feds in Motion Challenge – Stories in Motion.

FEEA is looking for real stories from feds like you. Have you faced a professional hurdle and emerged stronger? Led an innovative project that you're proud of? Or found a unique way to keep moving forward in your job? We want to hear your story, and more importantly, we want to share it.