Monday federal headlines – December 15, 2014

The Federal Headlines is a daily compilation of the stories you hear discussed on the Federal Drive and In Depth radio shows each day. Our headlines are updated twice per day — once in the morning and once in the afternoon — with the latest news affecting federal employees and contractors.

• The Postal Service says today is its busiest mailing day of the year. It expects to process 640 million cards, letters and packages today, ahead of the holiday season. Last year, the Postal Service processed 607 million pieces of mail on the busiest day. During the holiday season, USPS makes deliveries seven days a week in major cities and other high volume areas. Dec. 20 is the deadline to make sure mail arrives in time for Christmas. (USPS)
• Federal employees can exhale. The Senate over the weekend agreed to a $1.1 trillion 2015 spending bill now awaiting President Obama’s signature. Senators approved the bill late Saturday after sharp debate prompted by the more conservative Republicans and the more liberal Democrats. The bill avoids a government shutdown by funding agencies for the rest of fiscal 2015. The single exception is Homeland Security. Its funding only runs to Feb. 27. Republicans hope to use a single-department shutdown threat to force Obama to modify his immigration policies. The bill ensures a one percent pay raise for federal employees. ( Federal News Radio)
• The Senate’s weekend budget vote cleared the way for 20 of President Obama’s nominees to get confirmation votes. But the president’s choice for Social Security might have to wait until next year. Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) canceled a procedural vote on the nomination of Carolyn Colvin. Reid worried Colvin’s nomination would have taken up too much floor time as the Senate rushed to finish its year-end business. A group of Republican senators held Colvin’s nomination to investigate her possible role in a failed computer project at the agency. (Associated Press)
• Congress passes a bill to crack down on overtime pay at Customs and Border Protection. The goal of the bill is to streamline administratively uncontrollable overtime. Under the measure, most agents would work 100 hours in a two-week pay period, and get a 25 percent salary boost. Other options would be to work 90 hours and get a 12.5 percent salary increase. Or work 80 hours and get normal base pay. The Congressional Budget Office says the bill could save $100 million dollars per year. (Federal News Radio)
• Congress fails to pass an update the Freedom of Information Act, despite bipartisan support from lawmakers. The Senate approved a bill last week that requires agencies to have a “presumption of openness.” That means exemptions for withholding information would be limited and agencies would have to make records available in an electronic format. But the House and Senate ultimately couldn’t agree on final language in the bill. Groups advocating for open government say they’re disappointed Congress didn’t pass the bill. (Associated Press)
• The next Congress is likely to bring big changes to financial regulatory agencies. Bloomberg reports lobbyists are eyeing changes to laws affecting the Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Stability Oversight Council, and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Republicans want to scrap a rule the SEC has had trouble finishing. It concerns the fiduciary responsibility of stock and bond brokers. The Oversight Council would itself get more congressional oversight of — and transparency in — its operations. The CFPB would have its budget subject to congressional appropriations, a big change from how the 2010 Dodd- Frank legislation created the agency. (Bloomberg Government)
• The Office of Personnel Management wants to change performance standards for members of the Senior Executive Service. OPM releases a proposed rule that would expand rating levels from three categories to five. The ratings range from outstanding to unsatisfactory. OPM would have more oversight over each agency’s appraisal system. Agencies would also have to designate an official to oversee performance management and issue guidelines for the standards. If the proposed rule becomes final, performance review boards would have more say in awards for SES members. (Federal Register )
• The Navy is moving to adopt shared services offerred by the Intelligence Community Information Technology Environment, or ICITE. Deputy CIO Janet Haith says the big challenge is delivering intelligence information quickly to ships. She said terrestrial bandwidth to ships is often constrained or interrupted. Naval vessels also use satellite communications. So another challege is getting detailed intel over satellite links. Haith told a northern Virginia audience, the Coast Guard may become partners in operating and using intelligence and other data operations centers the Navy now operates. (Federal News Radio)
• Delaware will soon get is first national park under a bill passed by Congress. The national park expansion is part of the National Defense Authorization Act. The legislation creates the First State National Historical Park, preserving 1,100 acres of land near Wilmington, Delaware. Vice President Joe Biden has long advocated for the park. Delaware is the last of all the states to get a national park. (Associated Press )
• The bidding process is changing for some small business government contractors. The National Defense Authorization Act includes several provisions to help small businesses. The Washington Post reports the NDAA expands the sole source program, and splits the bidding process into two parts. (Washington Post)

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