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

Budget/Appropriations BUD

FY 2016 Budget Resolution - lobbied against House Budget Committee Chairman Price's FY 2016 Budget Resolution (H. Con. Res. 270). Lobbied against Senate Budget Committee Chairman Enzi's FY 2016 Budget Resolution (S. Con. Res). Lobbied on provisions to increase the Department of Veterans' Affairs health care budget with regard to budget reconciliation, legislation, blue collar pay, white collar pay, minimum wage, retirement, part-time annuity computations, and compensatory time. Lobbied against negative impact on federal employees' retirement by workers pay additional salary toward retirement, continued and increased staffing cuts; privatizing of more airport screening jobs, and reduction in benefits for on the job injuries. FY 2016 Homeland Security Appropriations - provisions for funding Customs and Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Citizenship and Immigration Services, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Transportation Security Administration. Provisions to halt reduction of the Federal Protective Service workforce. Continued retention of prohibitions against the OMB Circular A-76 process in the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) and on certain positions in the Citizenship and Immigration Services related to investigation and adjudication of immigration rights and benefits. FY 2016 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations - provisions to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and contracting out. FY 2016 Interior and Environmental Appropriations - provisions on contracting out, pay, and working conditions of federal employee jobs. FY 2016 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations - provisions on contracting out, cuts in funding for job training and employment services, college aid for students, rural health care services, funding for the National Institutes of Health and contracting out at NIH, and the increase in Social Security Administration's administrative budget to ease processing continuing backlog of disability claims. FY 2016 Financial Services Appropriations - contractor compensation provisions to make the A-76 process more fair to federal employees and more accountable to taxpayers, establish a more reliable contractor inventory, and promote insourcing. Lobbying to ensure A-76 prohibitions and the DoD cost comparison requirement be retained in comparable Senate bills and conference reports. FY 2016 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. Continue provision preventing use of CJS funds for A-76 competition for Bop/FPI work; and funding for BOP "Salaries and Expenses" relating to prison inmate overcrowding, correctional understaffing, and the ever increasing prison inmate assaults showing the necessity to improve safety and security at all BOP institutions. Lobbied for Eric Williams Correctional Officers Protection Act of 2015 (S 238/HR 472) and continued lobbying efforts on Smarter Sentencing Act of 2015 (HR 920/S 502). Continued lobbying efforts for adequate funding of the Building and Facilities account for modernization and repair of existing BOP institutions, including delays in construction of the new female prison inmate facility at the FCI Danbury, CT. Continue to ensure there is no provision for funding for new Criminal Alien Requirement (CAR) prison beds owned by private prison companies to incarcerate illegal/undocumented immigrants. Continued lobbying efforts against amendments having a detrimental impact on the Federal Prison Industries prison inmate work program. FY 2016 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations - reorganization of HUD office or multifamily housing. FY 2016 Agriculture Appropriations - provisions on contracting out of federal employees jobs and funding cuts for the Food Safety and Inspection Service. FY 16 Energy and Water Appropriations - Lobbied against amendments that would cut funding for fossil fuel research conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Lobbied in support of the "Federal Employee Pension Fairness Act of 2015" to amend recent major cuts to federal employee pensions and to repeal the draconian increase in federal employee retirement contributions for those hired in 2013 and beyond. Lobbied on the impact the budget agreement has on pension cuts for middle income federal workers and those hired before 2013.

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS); Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); Army, Dept of (Other); U.S. Marines; Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Navy, Dept of; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA); Defense Commissary Agency; Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); U.S. Customs & Border Protection; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Interior, Dept of (DOI); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Air Force, Dept of; SENATE; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA)

Bills named: H.Con.Res. 270 (114th), H.R. 472 (114th), H.R. 920 (114th)

Foreign Relations FOR

FY 2016 Foreign Operations Appropriations - lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of the Department of State employees. Lobbied against provisions of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) Reform bill that adversely affect Voice of America employees.

Contacted: Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Interior, Dept of (DOI); Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Defense Commissary Agency; SENATE; Air Force, Dept of; U.S. Customs & Border Protection; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Navy, Dept of; Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Army, Dept of (Other); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); U.S. Marines

Defense DEF

FY 2016 Defense Appropriations and Authorization - lobbied on provisions regarding contracting out and downsizing of federal employee jobs. Lobbied on civilian employee furloughs and contractor provisions related to programs and policies impacting industrial facilities specifically related to depot maintenance, arsenal, and organic facilities. Lobbied to include more favorable language on direct conversions. Lobbied for opposition to amendment 797 to S.Con.Res.11 that would promote reductions in civilian employees in headquarters, but not to service contractors. Lobbied to reject DoD's recommendations to slash funding for the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) and the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission to merge DeCA with the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) and then convert DeCA employees to non-appropriated fund (NAF) status.

Contacted: Labor, Dept of (DOL); Air Force, Dept of; Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); U.S. Customs & Border Protection; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Defense Commissary Agency; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); Army, Dept of (Other); U.S. Marines; SENATE; Interior, Dept of (DOI); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Defense, Dept of (DOD); Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS); Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA); Navy, Dept of; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS)

Bills named: S.Con.Res. 11 (114th)

Civil Rights/Civil Liberties CIV

FY 2016 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations - lobbied on reorganization plan that would compromise EEOC's ability to protect employees from employment discrimination. Lobbied against efforts to privatize the NASA workforce and lobbied against ending the moratorium on NASA layoff.

Contacted: Navy, Dept of; Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS); Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); Interior, Dept of (DOI); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Army, Dept of (Other); U.S. Customs & Border Protection; Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Defense Commissary Agency; Air Force, Dept of; Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); U.S. Marines; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); SENATE; Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA)

Agriculture AGR

FY 2015 Agriculture Appropriations - provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees. Lobby against adverse effects of FSIS final chicken slaughter plant rule, Modernization of Poultry Slaughter Inspection. Lobbied in opposition of legislation to reauthorize the Grain Standards Act in any efforts to revisit privatizing grain inspection.

Contacted: U.S. Customs & Border Protection; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Army, Dept of (Other); Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Navy, Dept of; Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); SENATE; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; U.S. Marines; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Defense Commissary Agency; Interior, Dept of (DOI); Air Force, Dept of; Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS)

Health Issues HCR

Possible bill to increase the federal government's share of health benefits premiums for its employees and retirees. Lobbied on proposed changes to FEHBP the could benefit some federal employees and harm others, while shifting more of the cost burden on federal employees and retirees. Lobbied to ensure any proposed legislation to implement these changes will not harm FEHBP enrollees.

Contacted: Labor, Dept of (DOL); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS); Air Force, Dept of; Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA); Defense Commissary Agency; Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; U.S. Customs & Border Protection; Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Army, Dept of (Other); Navy, Dept of; Interior, Dept of (DOI); U.S. Marines; Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Justice, Dept of (DOJ)

Veterans VET

Lobbied for advance appropriations for VA health care to shield most employees in anticipation of additional furloughs. Lobbied on Veterans Benefits Continuing Appropriations Resolution to fund benefits paid to veterans and personnel costs for processing disability payments, GI Bill, education training, and VA home loans. HR 313, the Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act of 2015 - lobbied to ensure veterans with a service connected disability rating of 30 percent or more with 104 hours of "disabled veteran leave (leave)" at the beginning of their employment. Lobbied for reintroduction of nurse staffing legislation. Lobbied against HR 280 that would allow recoupment of VA bonuses and awards. Lobbied against some provisions in the Veterans Affairs Retaliation Prevention Act of 2015 (HR 571) to change VA whistleblower protection enforcement scheme and assess attorney's fee against retaliators. Continue lobbying efforts to: --Provide and expand Title 38 bargaining rights; --Provide VA Canteen Service employees with Title 5 rights to appeal terminations. --Request for oversight of VA health care personnel issues, including recruitment and retention of VA physicians and registered nurses. --Expand veterans preference rights for Title 38 employees. --Introduction of a resolution designating September 22-28 as Federal Nurses Week.

Contacted: U.S. Customs & Border Protection; Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Labor, Dept of (DOL); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Air Force, Dept of; Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); U.S. Marines; Justice, Dept of (DOJ); SENATE; Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA); Army, Dept of (Other); Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Navy, Dept of; Defense, Dept of (DOD); Interior, Dept of (DOI); Defense Commissary Agency; Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS)

Bills named: H.R. 280 (114th), H.R. 313 (114th), H.R. 571 (114th)

Housing HOU

FY 2016 Financial Services Appropriations - lobbied on provisions on contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of HUD employees. FY 2016 Transportation, HUD, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act - continue lobbying against funds being used by HUD to relocate any multi-family housing asset management position as part of its reorganization plan.

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Defense Commissary Agency; U.S. Customs & Border Protection; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); SENATE; Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Interior, Dept of (DOI); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Air Force, Dept of; Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); Navy, Dept of; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Army, Dept of (Other); U.S. Marines; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS); Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA)

District of Columbia DOC

FY 2016 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations - lobbied on provisions dealing with contracting out and A-76 process. Budget reconciliation regarding the pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of DC Government employees. Lobbied on enforcement of DC and federal law and collective bargaining agreements involving increased oversight of the conversion of public worker jobs to private contractors.

Contacted: Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Army, Dept of (Other); Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Navy, Dept of; Air Force, Dept of; Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); U.S. Marines; SENATE; Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Interior, Dept of (DOI); Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS); U.S. Customs & Border Protection; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Defense Commissary Agency; Defense, Dept of (DOD); Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA)

Government Issues GOV

FY 2016 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations - lobbied on amendment to prohibit bill from being used to implement the pro-contractor revision of OMB Circular A-76, contracting out, blue collar pay, minimum wage, federal retirements systems, union representation, and contractor compensation caps. Lobbied on possible bill to overturn the Conyers decision on the due process of federal employees holding sensitive positions. Lobbied to gain cosponsor for bill. Lobbied on Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) reform. HR 304, the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act - to provide both the General Schedule and wage grade federal employees a 3.8% pay raise in 2016.

Contacted: Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); SENATE; Defense, Dept of (DOD); Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS); Air Force, Dept of; U.S. Customs & Border Protection; Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); Navy, Dept of; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA); Interior, Dept of (DOI); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Office of Personnel Management (OPM); U.S. Marines; Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); Defense Commissary Agency; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Army, Dept of (Other)

Bills named: H.R. 304 (114th)

Immigration IMM

FY 2016 Homeland Security Appropriations - lobbied on provisions on the Border Patrol and INS, with particular attention to contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, safety, and job security of DHS employees and equal treatment of female TSOs.

Contacted: Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Defense Commissary Agency; Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); Army, Dept of (Other); SENATE; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); Navy, Dept of; U.S. Marines; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Interior, Dept of (DOI); U.S. Customs & Border Protection; Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA); Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Air Force, Dept of; Justice, Dept of (DOJ); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA)

Food Industry (safety, labeling, etc.) FOO

FY 2016 Agriculture Appropriations - lobbied on provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public safety risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program and recommendations to further expand the program of putting plant managers, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Continued lobbying against adverse effects of the final rule, Modernization of Poultry Slaughter Inspection, on slaughter inspection. Lobbied against partially privatizing the inspection system, reducing the number of FSIS Inspectors from 4 to just 2 inspectors, and permitting faster line speeds than are traditionally allowed under inspection systems.

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); SENATE; Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Defense, Dept of (DOD); U.S. Customs & Border Protection; Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); Interior, Dept of (DOI); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Air Force, Dept of; Navy, Dept of; Army, Dept of (Other); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Defense Commissary Agency; U.S. Marines; Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA)

Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace LBR

FY 2016 THUD Appropriations - lobbying on Gingrey amendment in House to eliminate official time for all federal employees in agencies covered by the bill (Transportation, HUD, Merchant Marine Academy, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and National Transportation Safety Board. Oppose possible efforts to privatize the FAA. Lobbied for Schumer legislation to address Social Security Administration field office closings that would lead to vital service reductions (its Vision 2025 report). Lobbied against plan to go to an exclusively on-line system for the public to get help instead of talking to a qualified, trained staff person. Raised these concerns during Acting Commissions Carolyn Colvin's nomination hearing. The Paycheck Fairness Act, S 862/HR 1619 - lobbied in support of its intention to prohibit sex discrimination in the payment of wages. Lobbied for the introduction of the Pregnant Worker Fairness Act to require employers to provide the same accommodations to pregnant workers as those provided to temporarily disabled workers.

Contacted: Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); Army, Dept of (Other); Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Interior, Dept of (DOI); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Defense Commissary Agency; U.S. Marines; Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); U.S. Customs & Border Protection; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); SENATE; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Air Force, Dept of; Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); Navy, Dept of

Bills named: H.R. 1619 (114th)

Homeland Security HOM

2016 Homeland Security Appropriations - lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, 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, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Protective Service, and Transportation Security Administration. Lobbied to gain Title 5 and MSPB rights for (TSOs), removal of TSA screener cap, and increased funding for screen personnel, compensation, and benefits.

Contacted: Air Force, Dept of; Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); U.S. Customs & Border Protection; Interior, Dept of (DOI); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); SENATE; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Defense Commissary Agency; Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Defense, Dept of (DOD); Navy, Dept of; Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Labor, Dept of (DOL); U.S. Marines; Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS); Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); Army, Dept of (Other); Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Natural Resources NAT

FY 2016 Interior and Environmental Appropriations - lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior employees. Enabling Innovation for Science, Technology, and Energy in America Act (EINSTEIN America Act, - lobbied against Section 122 that required a study be conducted to determine how to convert the Department of Energy's award-winning National Energy Technology Lab (NETL) from a government owned and government operated facility (GO-GO) facility into a government owned, contractor-operated (GO-CO) outfit. Lobbied against Blumenauer and Swalwell amendments to that would cut funding for fossil fuel research conducted at NETL. HR 3080, Water Resources Development Act - lobbied against Young/Petri amendment that would prevent the Corps of Engineers (CoE) from using lower-cost, higher-performing alternatives to contractors for surveying and mapping functions.

Contacted: Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Interior, Dept of (DOI); U.S. Customs & Border Protection; Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS); Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS); Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); U.S. Marines; SENATE; Army, Dept of (Other); Office of Personnel Management (OPM); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Defense, Dept of (DOD); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA); Navy, Dept of; Air Force, Dept of; Defense Commissary Agency; Labor, Dept of (DOL)

Bills named: H.R. 3080 (114th)