Federal Daily - September 22, 2008
Lawmakers Cautiously Optimistic Over VA Suicide Hotline
Lawmakers expressed cautious optimism over the efficacy of a year-old Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Suicide Prevention Hotline that so far has led to 1,628 rescues of potential suicide victims. Legislators at a House Veterans Affairs Health subcommittee hearing on Sept. 16 reviewed the performance of the hotline, which was initiated July 2007 by VA with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The hotline—a toll-free number (1-800-273-TALK)—is manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week. According to VA statistics, as of August 2008, the effort fielded 32,854 calls, made 5,980 referrals to suicide prevention coordinators for follow-up, and coordinated 1,628 rescues—which are calls to police or ambulances for immediate response for those judged to be at imminent risk. Panel Chairman Michael H. Michaud, D-Maine, said that although he applauded the creation of the hotline, he remained concerned over VA’s larger suicide-prevention efforts. “While I commend the VA for implementing a suicide prevention hotline, I would like to hear how the hotline fits in with the VA’s overall strategy to combat suicide.” Thomas Berger of the Vietnam Veterans of America, who testified at the hearing, asked to panel to look more closely at why VA has not implemented a national suicide surveillance plan or program for veterans. Berger said that the real “first line of defense” against suicide has been the Vet Centers of the Readjustment Counseling Service, which needs to hire additional professional counseling staff. To see more, go to: http://veterans.house.gov/news/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=305.
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DOI Moves to Root Out Corruption Within MMS
Interior Department (DOI) Secretary Dirk Kempthorne told lawmakers the department is moving swiftly to eliminate corruption and ethical breaches within DOI’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) after an internal investigation found wrongdoing among a small group of MMS workers. Kempthorne, who testified at a Sept. 18 House Natural Resources Committee hearing, said he was accepting the recommendations of DOI Inspector General (IG) Earl E. Devaney, whose report documented a cozy relationship between the energy industry and certain members of MMS, which issues lucrative drilling leases to energy companies and then collects the royalties. The report found that federal employees improperly accepted gifts from oil company employees, had sex with subordinates and industry contacts, and used illegal drugs. “I find the conduct of the small group of long-term career employees described in the reports issued by the Inspector General’s Office inexcusable,” Kempthorne said. “I am dismayed that these activities could negatively reflect on the vast numbers of outstanding public servants that work in both the MMS and the department.” The IG recommended that those employees involved in the wrongdoing who are still at DOI be fired, and Kempthorne told lawmakers the disciplinary process is moving as quickly as possible. Also, the IG pointed out that the reporting hierarchy of the royalty-in-kind program (RIK)—where the wrongdoing was centered—bypassed the Denver DOI office where the program is located. Instead, the RIK program management had reported directly to DOI in Washington, D.C., 1,500 miles away. DOI has since changed that, Kempthorne said. Additionally, Kempthorne announced that MMS has already begun developing a code of conduct for the RIK program. To see more, go to: www.doi.gov/news/08_News_Releases/091808.html.
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NFFE Endorses Obama
The National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) on Sept. 18 announced that it had endorsed Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., for president, citing his record of advocacy for federal workers. NFFE President Richard Brown said that Obama has supported improving federal employee health benefits, funding critical agencies, protecting collective bargaining rights and ending no-bid government contracts. “There is simply too much at stake in this election for federal workers to stay on the sidelines,” said Brown. To see more, go to: www.nffe.org/ht/display/ReleaseDetails/i/6155.
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OPM Will Soon Decide RetireEZ’s Future
Federal Computer Week—The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will decide before October’s end how to proceed with its retirement systems modernization project, RetireEZ, Michael Hager, OPM’s acting director, said recently. OPM issued a stop-work order in May against contractor Hewitt Associates over performance issues related to the system's benefits calculator engine. The agency had planned to add 61 additional functions to conduct benefits calculations to the first phase, or Wave 1, of RetireEZ, the agency said in May. At the time, RetireEZ covered about 26,000 employees at four agencies, but only four of its functions passed user-acceptance tests, OPM said then. The system as planned would automatically calculate annuity checks for federal employees under different financial scenarios so the employees could determine the best time to retire. To read the complete story, go to: www.fcw.com/online/news/153799-1.html.
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