AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO for AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO

Housing HOU

FY 2013 Financial Services Appropriations - provisions on contracting out; and pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of HUD employees.

Contacted: Air Force, Dept of; Merit Systems Protection Board; Army, Dept of (Other); Transportation Security Administration (TSA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Interior, Dept of (DOI); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); Natl Institute of Mental Health (NIMH); Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); U.S. Customs & Border Protection; Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Navy, Dept of; U.S. Marines; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Defense Commissary Agency; SENATE

Budget/Appropriations BUD

FY 2013 Budget Resolution - provisions to increase the Department of Veterans Affairs health care budget with particular attention to budget reconciliation, legislation, blue collar pay, white collar pay, minimum wage, retirement, part-time annuity computations, and compensatory time. FY 2013 Senate Budget Resolution - Medicaid cuts that would adversely affect health care and result in the cost of uncompensated health care being shifted to employer-sponsored health care plans. FY 2013 Budget Resolution - conference agreement providing for an increase for veterans health care programs. FY 2013 Homeland Security Appropriations - provisions on funding for Customs and Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Federal Emergency Management Agency. DHS Personnel Plan - provisions to halt the Administration's plan to reduce the Federal Protective Service workforce. Provision to require TSA to authorize the use of protective equipment, including masks and respirators, during public health emergencies; amendments to mitigate statutory changes to the Screening Partnership Program (SPP). FY 2013 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations - provisions to provide funding for VA health and benefits programs, and contracting out. FY 2013 Interior and Environmental Appropriations - provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs. FY 2013 Energy and Water Appropriations - Amendment to strike Section 102 and retain safeguards to ban A-76 public-private competition at the Army Corps of Engineers (CoE). FY 2013 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations - provisions on contracting out, cuts in funds for job training and employment services, college aid for students, rural health care services, funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and contracting out at NIH, and the increase in Social Security Administration's administrative budget to ease processing backlog of more than 600,000 disability claims. FY 2013 Financial Services Appropriations - provisions to make the A-76 process less unfair to federal employees and more accountable to taxpayers, establish a reliable contractor inventory, and promote insourcing. Lobbying to ensure A-76 prohibitions and the DoD cost comparison requirement are retained in the comparable Senate bills as well as in the ultimate conference reports. FY 2013 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations - amendment to prohibit funds from being used to close or consolidate any EEOC office or make any reductions in force stemming from workforce repositioning, restructuring, or organizing of the EEOC; provision preventing use of CJS funds for A-76 competition for BoP/FPI work; and funding for BOP "Salaries and Expenses" as it relates to prison inmate overcrowding; correctional personnel understaffing; and the ever increasing prison inmate assaults showing the need to improve safety and security at BoP institutions. HR 5326, Section 212, opposed the Huizenga amendment to strike section 212 that would potentially affect the safety and security of federal BoP prisons and personnel. FY 2013 Agriculture Appropriations - provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts for the Food Safety and Inspection Service. FY 2013 Defense Appropriations - provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs, and sourcing and workforce management issues concerning DoD civilian employees, in particular, the Pentagon's "Efficiency Initiative" capping DoD's civilian workforce at FY10 levels and increasing use and spending on service contractors regardless of cost or legal requirements making even inherently governmental functions difficult to insource; also lobbying in opposition to inclusion of "special rule relating to DoD purchases of Federal Prisons Industry textile and apparel products." HR 4310, Coffman Amendment, (#54) to FY 13 NDAA, would prevent DoD from correcting through insourcing poorly awarded or performing contracts to deliberately make sourcing process pro-contractor. HR 3634, FPI Competition in Contracting Act of 2012 and FPI Competition in Contracting Act of 2012, the bills' elimination of FPI's mandatory source preference from DoD and civilian agency procurement sanctities detrimentally impacting on the FPI inmate work program. HR 2114, Reducing the Size of the Federal Government Through Attrition Act of 2011and HR 657, Federal Workforce Reduction Act of 2011-- opposition to provisions to make arbitrary cuts without regard to budgets and workloads; lobbied on need for clarification and identification of services that are to be reduced or waste to be eliminated; opposition to failure to impose cuts on more expensive contractors. HR 4966, Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act of 2012, Ryan Budget Resolution--lobbied against imposition of approximately $79 billion in major cuts to federal retirement programs over ten-year period by requiring current federal employees to contribute an additional five percent of salary toward their defined benefit pension plan without any increase of retirement benefits.

Contacted: Defense Commissary Agency; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Navy, Dept of; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); Natl Institute of Mental Health (NIMH); Transportation Security Administration (TSA); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Merit Systems Protection Board; Interior, Dept of (DOI); Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS); SENATE; Army, Dept of (Other); U.S. Marines; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Air Force, Dept of; Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Defense, Dept of (DOD); U.S. Customs & Border Protection; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Labor, Dept of (DOL)

Bills named: H.R. 5326 (112th), H.R. 3634 (112th), H.R. 657 (112th), H.R. 4310 (112th), H.R. 4966 (112th), H.R. 2114 (112th)

Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace LBR

FY 2013 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations - amendment to prohibit funds from being used to close or consolidate any office of the EEOC or to make reductions in force part of any workforce repositioning, restructuring, or organizing of the EEOC. FY 2013 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bill - provisions on cuts in funds for job training and employment services, college aid for students, rural health care services, funding for the National Institutes of Health, and increasing the Social Security Administration's administrative budget to ease processing backlog of more than 600,000 disability claims. HR 616, Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act - proposal to provide federal employees who are new parents or adoptive parents with eights weeks of full pay and benefits. S 572/HR 807 - provisions to provide health care professionals with equal rights to bargain over compensation matters. S 95/HR 1941, Hiring Heroes Act, provision that would create a new direct hire authority to offer federal jobs to every veteran within the first 180 days after an honorable discharge from active duty. S 743, Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act, provisions to reform protection from retaliation for disclosure of fraud, waste, and abuse. S 2170, the Hatch Act Modernization Act, provisions to allow state and local workers to run for political office. HR 1409/S 560, Employee Free Choice Act, establishment of a pro-worker system for employees to form, join, or assist a labor organization thus assuring workers the right to bargain for better working conditions, wages, and benefits. HR 828 - proposal to terminate federal employees who have seriously delinquent tax debt due the Internal Revenue Service. HR 1383, Air Force Depot Workers Fairness Act - provision on compensatory time and a half. HR 1169, National Guard Technician Equity Act - provisions to correct outdated sections in current laws that harm Title 32 National Guard and Reserve issues, including dual status and retiree health care. HR 3493, Locality Pay Equity Act - provisions to align blue collar and white collar wage areas. HR 673 and HR 675, Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act - provisions to provide law enforcement officer status to many different groups of federal employees. HR 324, to amend Title 10 USC to provide federal Civilian Police Officers, Civilian Criminal Investigators, and Civilian Game Law Enforcement Officers in the Department of Defense the authority to execute warrants, make arrests, and carry firearms. HR 1175/S 1645, Pepper Spray bill - provisions dealing with Bureau of Prisons management policy changes, including the use of non-lethal weaponry. HR 658, FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011, in regards to official time use of elected volunteer federal employee union representatives at FAA to engage in representation responsibilities on behalf of employees in their collective bargaining units. HR 1470, provision to extend the probationary period for federal workers from one year to two years. S 3221, RAISE Act, lobbied against giving an employer the right to ignore a negotiated and ratified collective bargaining agreement. Lobbied against Congressional Republican leadership proposal to extend current rate for student loans for one year by permanently raising taxes sole on middle income federal employees. S 2049 and HR 2977, lobbied to transition to the use of $1 coins and to end the use of $1 bills.

Contacted: Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Transportation Security Administration (TSA); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Navy, Dept of; U.S. Marines; Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); SENATE; Merit Systems Protection Board; Natl Institute of Mental Health (NIMH); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); U.S. Customs & Border Protection; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Air Force, Dept of; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS); Interior, Dept of (DOI); Defense Commissary Agency; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Army, Dept of (Other)

Bills named: H.R. 658 (112th), H.R. 2977 (112th), H.R. 673 (112th), H.R. 1383 (112th), H.R. 616 (112th), H.R. 1941 (112th), H.R. 324 (112th), H.R. 807 (112th), H.R. 1409 (112th), H.R. 3493 (112th), H.R. 1470 (112th), H.R. 1175 (112th), H.R. 675 (112th), H.R. 1169 (112th), H.R. 828 (112th)

Immigration IMM

FY 2013 Homeland Security Appropriations - provisions on the Border Patrol and INS, with particular attention to contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of DHS employees.

Contacted: Transportation Security Administration (TSA); Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); SENATE; U.S. Customs & Border Protection; Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Natl Institute of Mental Health (NIMH); Defense Commissary Agency; Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Merit Systems Protection Board; Air Force, Dept of; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Army, Dept of (Other); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Defense, Dept of (DOD); Navy, Dept of; U.S. Marines; Interior, Dept of (DOI); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS)

Natural Resources NAT

FY 2013 Interior and Environmental Appropriations - provisions on the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior employees.

Contacted: Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Interior, Dept of (DOI); Merit Systems Protection Board; Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Natl Institute of Mental Health (NIMH); Defense Commissary Agency; Navy, Dept of; U.S. Marines; Army, Dept of (Other); Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS); U.S. Customs & Border Protection; Transportation Security Administration (TSA); Air Force, Dept of; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Defense DEF

FY 2013 Defense Appropriations and Authorization - provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs. Provisions related to programs and policies impacting industrial facilities, specifically related to depot maintenance, arsenals, and organic industrial facilities. Also, to include more favorable language on direct conversions and contractor inventories and to lift the cap on civilian employees. S. 3254, section 341, to cut funding for civilian personnel by 5% and require elimination of 18,000 to 37,000 by 2017. HR.3980/ HR 3851/ HR 3893, anti-insourcing provisions advocating for small businesses. FY 2013 Financial Services Appropriations bill - provisions regarding pay, benefits, and sourcing, and to retain government-wide prohibition against A-76. HR 5854, opposing provisions to freeze salaries of civilians in DoD and DVA for third year.

Contacted: Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Natl Institute of Mental Health (NIMH); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Navy, Dept of; Transportation Security Administration (TSA); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); U.S. Customs & Border Protection; Air Force, Dept of; Interior, Dept of (DOI); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Army, Dept of (Other); Merit Systems Protection Board; Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); U.S. Marines; Defense Commissary Agency

Bills named: H.R. 5854 (112th), S. 3254 (112th), H.R. 3851 (112th), H.R. 3893 (112th), H.R. 3980 (112th)

Civil Rights/Civil Liberties CIV

FY 2013 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations - provisions on reorganization plan that may compromise the EEOC's ability to protect employees from employment discrimination.

Contacted: Merit Systems Protection Board; Interior, Dept of (DOI); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS); Navy, Dept of; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Air Force, Dept of; Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Defense Commissary Agency; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Defense, Dept of (DOD); U.S. Customs & Border Protection; SENATE; Natl Institute of Mental Health (NIMH); U.S. Marines; Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Army, Dept of (Other); Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

Agriculture AGR

FY 2013 Agriculture Appropriations - provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees. FY 2013 Agriculture Authorization - S 3240 and HR 6083 worked to oppose MOUs between States that would permit State-inspected meat and poultry to be sold interstate. Oppose FSIS proposed chicken slaughter plant rule.

Contacted: Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); Merit Systems Protection Board; U.S. Customs & Border Protection; Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS); Navy, Dept of; SENATE; Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Defense Commissary Agency; Natl Institute of Mental Health (NIMH); U.S. Marines; Army, Dept of (Other); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Transportation Security Administration (TSA); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Air Force, Dept of; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Defense, Dept of (DOD); Interior, Dept of (DOI)

Bills named: H.R. 6083 (112th)

Health Issues HCR

AFGE is part of a coalition of 28 health organizations and labor unions urging support of Health and Human Services's funding request to appropriate $2 billion for research, vaccine purchases, and related activities. HR 4489, The FEHBP Prescription Drug Integrity, Transparency, and Cost Savings Act - support of bill and use of Pharmacy Benefit Managers to ensure fairness to taxpayers and enrollees.

Contacted: Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Air Force, Dept of; Defense Commissary Agency; SENATE; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Merit Systems Protection Board; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Transportation Security Administration (TSA); Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); Natl Institute of Mental Health (NIMH); U.S. Marines; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Navy, Dept of; Army, Dept of (Other); U.S. Customs & Border Protection; Interior, Dept of (DOI)

Bills named: H.R. 4489 (112th)

Veterans VET

S 572/HR 807, to amend Section 7422 of Title 38, provides medical professionals with collective bargaining rights, including the right to resolve disputes with management over matters affecting working conditions through grievances, arbitrations, and negotiations. S 572/HR 807 would give VA registered nurses, psychiatrists, doctors, and dentists the same bargaining rights over compensation matters as their counterparts in military hospitals and prison facilities. HR 2965 - to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for penalties for employees of the Veterans Health Administration who intentionally fail to follow infection control practices. HR 2349, Veterans' Benefits Act of 2011 - provisions that could expose VBA claims processing personnel to unwarranted adverse actions; requirement of biannual assessment testing but does not ensure fair testing process; and links remediation and adverse personnel actions; includes provisions that could weaken requirements for statutory notices to veterans appealing benefit claims by overrelying on electronic notices and reducing the number of notices. HR 3670/S 1990 - provisions requiring Transportation Administration to comply with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). S 3084, VISN Reorganization Act of 2012, provision regarding arbitrary reduction in VISN structure and functions with no labor input and expansion of private sector role. S 3233/HR 6015, Service Members Access to Justice Act of 2012, provision regarding improving enforcement of USERRA rights. S 572/HR 807, provision to provide Title 38 employees with equal bargaining rights over compensatory matters. S 3052, provision to require notice to veterans who file claims electronically of services from veterans' groups. S 1859, expanding veterans preference appeal rights to FAA and TSA employees. S 1849, Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act, provision that could expand use of non-VA care. S 1823/HR 1811, National Guard Employment Protection Act of 2011, provision to expand USERRA coverage to National Guard. HR 2074/S 1689, to prevent sexual assault at VA facilities; and provision to expand non-VA care for Traumatic Brain Injury. S 1631, to establish technical assistance center for non-VA providers at rural health care services. S 1089, to apply pay-for-performance to VA outpatient clinics run by contractors. HR 1484, provision to allow new evidence for veterans' claims on appeal to be submitted directly to Board of Veterans Appeals instead of Regional Office.

Contacted: Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Navy, Dept of; U.S. Marines; Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS); Natl Institute of Mental Health (NIMH); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Defense Commissary Agency; SENATE; Transportation Security Administration (TSA); Army, Dept of (Other); Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); Merit Systems Protection Board; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); U.S. Customs & Border Protection; Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Air Force, Dept of; Defense, Dept of (DOD); Interior, Dept of (DOI); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers)

Bills named: H.R. 3670 (112th), H.R. 1811 (112th), H.R. 1484 (112th), H.R. 2965 (112th), H.R. 2074 (112th), H.R. 807 (112th), H.R. 2349 (112th), H.R. 6015 (112th)

Foreign Relations FOR

FY 2013 Foreign Operations Appropriations - provisions on the pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of the Department of State employees. Provisions that adversely affect Voice of America Employees, particularly in Greenville Transmitting Station in North Carolina.

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Natl Institute of Mental Health (NIMH); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS); Merit Systems Protection Board; SENATE; U.S. Marines; Air Force, Dept of; Defense Commissary Agency; Interior, Dept of (DOI); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); Transportation Security Administration (TSA); Army, Dept of (Other); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); U.S. Customs & Border Protection; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Navy, Dept of; Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

District of Columbia DOC

FY 2013 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations - provisions on contracting out A-76, and Budget Reconciliation with particular attention to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of DC Government employees. Enforcement of DC and federal law, and collective bargaining agreements involving increased oversight of the conversion of public worker jobs to private contractors. S. 2170, the Hatch Act Modernization Act of 2012, provisions addressing outdated and unclear restrictions of political activities of federal and DC Government employees and to ensure DC employees are treated the same as state or local workers for purposes of the Hatch Act.

Contacted: U.S. Customs & Border Protection; Interior, Dept of (DOI); SENATE; Defense, Dept of (DOD); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Transportation Security Administration (TSA); Army, Dept of (Other); Office of Personnel Management (OPM); U.S. Marines; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Natl Institute of Mental Health (NIMH); Defense Commissary Agency; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Merit Systems Protection Board; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS); Navy, Dept of; Air Force, Dept of

Bills named: S. 2170 (112th)

Family issues/Abortion/Adoption FAM

HR 616, Federal Employee Paid Parental Leave Act - provisions providing executive and legislative branch federal employees the opportunity as parents to bond with newborn infants, newly adopted children, or fostered children by providing them with 4 weeks of paid parental leave. Lobbying House to accept the Senate-passed Violence Against Women Act bill. Working on modifying legislation that will require criminal background checks and possible termination of federal employees who work with children on military bases.

Contacted: Defense, Dept of (DOD); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Natl Institute of Mental Health (NIMH); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS); Interior, Dept of (DOI); U.S. Marines; Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Transportation Security Administration (TSA); Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Defense Commissary Agency; Navy, Dept of; SENATE; Merit Systems Protection Board; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Army, Dept of (Other); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Labor, Dept of (DOL); U.S. Customs & Border Protection; Air Force, Dept of; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA)

Bills named: H.R. 616 (112th)

Government Issues GOV

FY 2013 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations - amendment to prohibit bill from being used to implement the pro-contractor revision of OMB Circular A-76; Civil Service Reform; contracting out; blue collar pay; minimum wage; federal retirement systems; and union representation. HR 2736/S 924 - "Clean Up" Act - Correction of Longstanding Errors in Agencies Unsustainable Procurements - provisions to revive the civil service, save taxpayer dollars, restore good government, and reduce waste, fraud, and abuse in contracting out. National Criminal Justice Commission - provisions to establish and improve public safety, cost-effectiveness, overall prison administration, and fairness in the implementation of the criminal justice system. HR 658/S 223 - FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act - amendments to expand the Screening Partnership Program. Lobbying against bills to "protect" passengers such as STRIP (Stop TSA' Reach in Policy) and RIGHTS (Restoring Integrity and Good-Heartedness to the Traveler Screening Acts. HR 122, Federal Employee Accountability Act/H.AMD 226, to the FAA Fair Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act preventing FAA employee representatives from engaging in union business during the work day severely limiting official time and minimizing contact between the union and FAA employees. HR 2145/S. 1143 - To amend title 5, United States Code, and eliminate the automatic payroll deduction of union dues for federal employees. HR 1470 - to amend Title 5 USC and extend the probationary period for federal workers from one to two years. S 1910 - The Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act - provide health care, retirement, and other benefits to all federal civilian employees with qualifying same-sex benefit. HR 4970, the alternative Violence Against Women Act -- provisions that reduce funding levels and waters down protections for victims of domestic violence. S. 2170, the Hatch Act Modernization Act of 2012, provisions addressing outdated and unclear restrictions of political activities of federal and DC Government employees; amendments to allow union representatives to represent members during investigations to ensure option to Office of Special Counsel to set no penalty for minor Hatch Act violations.

Contacted: Army, Dept of (Other); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Merit Systems Protection Board; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Defense Commissary Agency; Air Force, Dept of; Natl Institute of Mental Health (NIMH); SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Transportation Security Administration (TSA); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Interior, Dept of (DOI); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); Office of Personnel Management (OPM); U.S. Customs & Border Protection; U.S. Marines; Navy, Dept of; Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS); Office of Management & Budget (OMB)

Bills named: H.R. 2145 (112th), H.R. 1470 (112th), H.R. 658 (112th), H.R. 2736 (112th), S. 1143 (112th), H.R. 122 (112th), S. 2170 (112th), H.R. 4970 (112th)

Food Industry (safety, labeling, etc.) FOO

FY 2013 Agriculture Appropriations - provisions on contracting out of federal employees jobs and potential food and public safety risk. Funding cut of meat and poultry inspection program and recommendation to expand the controversial pilot inspection program, HIMP, putting plant managers, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination.

Contacted: Transportation Security Administration (TSA); Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Army, Dept of (Other); Defense Commissary Agency; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); U.S. Customs & Border Protection; U.S. Marines; Air Force, Dept of; Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS); Interior, Dept of (DOI); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Navy, Dept of; Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); Merit Systems Protection Board; Natl Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Homeland Security HOM

FY 2013 Homeland Security Appropriations - provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out and staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in Customs and Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (reform of current overtime system), Citizenship and Immigration Services (Sessions Amendment targeting CIS Information Officers and other specific occupations and job titles changes, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Transportation Security Administration. S 772, Secure Facilities Act of 2011, Federal Protective Service reform for adequately staffing and funding of this Homeland Security Agency. HR 3116/S 1546 - DHS Authorization Act of 2011/FY 2012 - provisions that may affect the pay, benefits, and sourcing of federal employees in these agencies. HR 3011 TSA Authorization Act - provisions that may affect the pay, benefits, working conditions, and sourcing of TSA federal employees. Lobbied against Stop TSA's Reach in Policy (STRIP) and Restoring Integrity and Good-Heartedness to the Traveler Screening (RIGHTS) bills to "protect" passengers from perceived mistreatment by TSOs.

Contacted: Defense Commissary Agency; U.S. Customs & Border Protection; Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); Merit Systems Protection Board; SENATE; Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Navy, Dept of; U.S. Marines; Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Natl Institute of Mental Health (NIMH); Army, Dept of (Other); Transportation Security Administration (TSA); Air Force, Dept of; Interior, Dept of (DOI); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS)

Bills named: H.R. 3011 (112th), H.R. 3116 (112th)