Federal Daily - October 19, 2009

OPM Chief Supports Benefits for Same-Sex Couples

Lawmakers could improve the government’s workplace recruiting and retention efforts by extending a range of health and retirement benefits to the same-sex partners of federal employees, Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry told a Senate panel on Oct. 15. Berry was among witnesses who testified in support of the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009 (S. 1102) before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Under the measure, same-sex domestic partners of federal employees would be eligible to participate in health care benefits, long-term care insurance, Family and Medical Leave Act leave and federal retirement benefits. Under current law, the federal government cannot offer basic benefits like health insurance, life insurance and dental and vision insurance to domestic partners. Opposite-sex domestic partners are not eligible for these benefits either, but they may gain eligibility through a valid marriage, Berry said. But even in states where same-sex couples can obtain a valid license, their marriages are not recognized for purposes of federal benefits because of Public Law 104-199, the Defense of Marriage Act, Berry said. “The current policy is unjust and it directly undermines the federal government’s ability to recruit and retain the nation’s best workers,” Berry said. “Almost 85 percent of Fortune 100 companies already offer similar benefits to the same-sex domestic partners of their employees.” Under the measure, federal employees and their domestic partners would also be subject to the same legal responsibilities that apply to married employees and their spouses, such as anti-nepotism rules and financial disclosure requirements. To see more, go to: http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Press.Majority
News&ContentRecord_id=59c0688e-5056-8059-768f-4c3f45083cb4.

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SSA Urges Quick Passage of Bill to Provide Additional $250 Check

The head of the Social Security Administration (SSA) on Oct. 15 urged lawmakers to quickly approve legislation to provide a $250 check next year to millions of Social Security beneficiaries who will see no cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase in 2010. President Obama has recommended that Congress pass legislation to provide the checks, and SSA Commissioner Michael J. Astrue suggested that lawmakers move quickly. “This year, in light of the human need, we need to support President Obama’s call for us to make another $250 recovery payment for 57 million Americans,” Astrue said in a statement. Social Security benefits are calculated against inflation, which has been negative this year, and although benefits, by law, cannot decline, this would be the first time benefits have not increased since 1975, when COLA adjustments became automatic. The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) also pushed for the checks. “This payment would come as a welcome relief to federal retirees and survivors at a time when most will shoulder a 12 to 15 percent health insurance premium increase in a year they will receive no cost-of-living adjustment,” said NARFE President Margaret Baptiste. To see more, go to: www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/pr/2010cola-pr.htm.

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Vietnam Veterans Group Lauds Agent Orange Decision

The head of a major veterans service organization lauded last week’s announcement that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will add three medical conditions to the list of ailments associated with Agent Orange, an herbicide that was widely used for defoliation during the Vietnam War. “VA Secretary Shinseki deserves the thanks of all veterans who served in Vietnam for being true to his word in adding Parkinson’s disease, ischemic heart disease, and hairy-cell leukemia to the list of illnesses associated with exposure to the herbicide known as Agent Orange,” said John Rowan, National President of Vietnam Veterans of America. Shinseki based the decision on a 2008 Veterans and Agent Orange update from the Institute of Medicine which cited various levels of evidence indicating an association between herbicide exposure and subsequent development of the three diseases in Vietnam vets. The “service-connection” decision means that veterans will no longer have to prove an association between the illnesses and their military service, making it easier for them to access VA health care services and disability compensation. To see more, go to: www.veteranshealth.org.

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Panel Examines Southers as Next TSA Head

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on Oct. 15 considered President Obama’s nomination of Erroll Southers to become the next Transportation Security Administration (TSA) assistant secretary. Southers currently serves as Los Angeles World Airports Police Department assistant chief for homeland security and intelligence, and is an associate director at the Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events at the University of Southern California. National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) President Colleen M. Kelley applauded the nomination and said she expects that Southers, once confirmed, will move to immediately grant TSA employees full collective bargaining rights. Kelley also noted that union leaders will meet again next week with senior TSA management to continue identifying workplace issues and potential solutions. The Oct. 22 meeting will be the second between NTEU and TSA leadership, she said. However, Kelley said the discussions are no substitute for full union rights at TSA. “Full collective bargaining rights would help to alleviate many of the current TSA workplace issues, including disciplinary rules,” Kelley said. To see more, go to: http://commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=
Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_ID=d23a8966-0f34-4dde-9acd-19b5b6d94932 (Senate hearing) or www.nteu.org/PressKits/PressRelease/PressRelease.aspx?ID=1486.

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