Federal Daily - February 11, 2009
FAA Reauthorization Bill Would Mandate Labor Mediation
Lawmakers introduced legislation on Feb. 9 that would—if passed into law—mandate an independent arbitrator for stalled contract negotiations between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA). Reps. James Oberstar, D-Minn., chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, and Jerry Costello, D-Ill., introduced the bill, H.R. 915, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009, which authorizes nearly $70 billion for FAA through Fiscal Year 2012. Notably, the bill would require FAA to engage the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service—or an alternative dispute resolution procedure—when it deadlocks in bargaining with one of its unions. That part of the bill specifically applies to the ongoing dispute between NATCA and the agency, Oberstar said. H.R. 915 also would increase the number of aviation safety inspectors, require FAA to inspect all certificated foreign repair stations twice each year and create an independent Aviation Safety Whistleblower Investigation Office within FAA. That office would be charged with receiving safety complaints and information submitted by both FAA employees and employees of certificated entities, investigating those complaints, and then recommending appropriate corrective action. The bill also would force FAA to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to study control tower staffing levels. Employee unions have complained the FAA under-staffs its towers. The bill is nearly identical to H.R. 2881, which passed the House, but failed to become law last year when it stalled in the Senate. To see more, go to: http://transportation.house.gov/News/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=816.
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Bill Would Bolster VA Medical Salaries
Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, on Feb. 9 introduced a bill that would raise salaries for nurses, physicians, dentists and executives who work for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system. The bill, the Veterans’ Medical Personnel Recruitment and Retention Act of 2009, is the House companion bill to S. 252, introduced in the Senate by Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii. In addition to hiking salaries, the bill would streamline pay systems, provide incentives to retired employees to return to the VA system by removing annuity and salary offsets, and boost education benefits for new VA hires and current staff. In addition, the bill would clarify VA regulations regarding work schedules and overtime; and make it easier for VA to hire and retain part-time nurses—and allow full-time nurses to transition to part-time work schedules. “As a former nurse, I know first-hand the importance of high-quality medical care, and how much it can improve the quality of life of returning servicemembers and veterans,” Johnson said. To see more, go to: www.house.gov/list/press/tx30_johnson/VMPRRA.html.
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CEG Closes; Programs to Merge With Partnership for Public Service
The Council for Excellence in Government (CEG) announced Feb. 9 that it was closing, but most of its staff and a majority of its programs will be picked up by the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service (PPS). CEG, one of the Washington metro area’s largest good-government groups, has been operating for 25 years. John Macomber, CEG board chairman, noted that declining finances had driven the move. “The current economic climate has made it extremely difficult to raise the funding required to continue and grow these vital programs,” Macomber said in a statement. “Moving these programs to the Partnership will improve efficiency, increase their impact and provide needed services to more government executives and organizations.” While most of the program staff will join PPS, some CEG administrators may be laid off. The CEG programs that will transition to the PPS include the Excellence in Government Fellows, Strategic Advisors to Government Executives and Public Service Recognition Week. “We are proud to continue the important work the Council for Excellence in Government started more than 25 years ago.” said Max Stier, PPS president and CEO. To see more, go to:
http://ceg.files.cms-plus.com/Council%20Press%20Release%20Final%202.9.09.pdf.
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VA to Hold Patient Safety Awareness Week
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on Feb. 9 announced it will hold a special training campaign on safety from March 8 to March 14 at all medical centers and outpatient clinics to highlight the need for patient safety. The safety “Step-Up” campaign was triggered by VA inspectors who found that the reprocessing of endoscopic equipment did not follow the manufacturer’s exact instructions at two VA medical centers. The facilities involved—located in Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Augusta, Ga.—have already taken corrective action, the VA said. VA officials are not aware of any patients having been harmed by improperly reprocessed equipment. Although risks are small, the VA said it was “being very conservative and notifying patients who might have been treated by the affected equipment.” Also, the effort is the culmination of a VA education program to implement stronger procedures and better accountability at VA health care facilities. “The safety of our patients is our foremost concern at VA,” said Dr. Michael J. Kussman, VA’s under secretary for health. Normal activities will continue during the Step-Up at all VA facilities and patient appointments should not be affected, the VA said. To see more, go to: http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1652.
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