Wednesday federal headlines – May 13, 2015

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 it could save $400 million this fiscal year if gas prices stay low. The Federal Times reports, USPS already saves $200 million so far this year because gas prices are lower than expected. (Federal Times)
• The Veterans Affairs Department may have to hold out a tin cup to get the money needed to complete a troubled hospital project near Denver. Members of Congress from both parties said they wouldn’t let VA divert money from the Veterans Choice Act. That law last year approved $5 billion to let VA hire more doctors and upgrade facilities. Assistant VA Secretary Sloan Gibson said VA needs $730 million to finish the project, which is years late and vastly over budget. Both the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee said VA would have to find another way to finish the hospital. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) called it “an embarrassing boondoggle.” (Federal News Radio)
• Thousands of federal employees could get bargaining rights under a House bill. Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) introduced the VA Employee Fairness Act. Health care providers at the Veterans Affairs Department would be able to negotiate their pay and staff levels. They haven’t been able to do that since 1991. Takano said the bill would create a more stable health care environment for veterans and reduces turnover. The American Federation of Government Employees supports the bill. It said the legislation gives fair and just treatment to those who care for veterans. AFGE also said the bill would help ensure a strong VA health care system. (AFGE/Rep. Takano)
• Navy Secretary Ray Mabus proposed a series of family-friendly new policies. Several are designed to retain top performing women. At a speech today at the Naval Academy, Mabus will propose doubling paid maternity leave for sailors and Marines to 12 weeks. He also wants to extend child care services throughout the world by two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening. He’ll also propose allowing as many as 400 people to take up to three years off from service, if they agree to two years of service for each year they take off. Some of Mabus’ proposals would require approval from Congress. (Federal News Radio)
• The Veterans Affairs Department agreed to train its managers and human resources staff on gay and lesbian discrimination issues. The move came after the Office of Special Counsel facilitated a settlement for a VA psychiatrist. Managers threatened to remove Dr. Patricia Kinne after patients complained that she disclosed she was a lesbian. The patients said her sexual orientation was the reason they stopped treatment with Kinne. But OSC found only two patients requested transfers because of Kinne’s sexual orientation. OSC said it obtained “full relief” for Kinne. (OSC)
• The CIA is negotiating with the family of an agency contractor killed in the 2012 Benghazi attack. The parents of Glen Doherty are seeking $1 million for wrongful death. Under the standard federal insurance policy, only spouses and children are eligible for contractor survivor benefits. A lawyer representing the parents said discussions with the CIA are cooperative. In January, President Barack Obama signed a law extending survivor benefits for employees. They were made retroactive to 1983 to help survivors of the Beirut embassy bombing. It also applied in some cases to State Department contractors. (Federal News Radio)
• The House unanimously passed a bill to make police death benefits tax- free. Families of fallen law enforcement officers wouldn’t have to pay federal income tax on federal or state benefits. Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-Minn.) introduced the bill. The House passed it on a vote of 413-0. Several organizations and unions support the bill, including the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association and the National Association of Police Organizations. Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) sponsored a similar bill that has bipartisan support.
  ( Rep. Erik Paulsen)
• The White House said it supports the USA Freedom Act. The bill would change how the National Security Agency collects bulk data. NSA would have to obtain court approval before collecting meta-data. The White House said the bill is an appropriate balance between reform and preserving national security. Lawmakers are rushing to pass the bill before a part of the Patriot Act expires in June. The House is expected to vote and pass the bill today. But it’s unclear what will happen in the Senate. Some senators said the bill goes too far. Others said it doesn’t go far enough. (USA Today)
• A U.S. military helicopter carrying six Marines and two Nepalese Army soldiers went missing during a mission in Nepal. The crew was delivering aid to earthquake victims. As of early this morning, Defense officials said no signal was detected from the craft and they have no indication of whether it crashed. The Pentagon spokesman said a Nepalese air brigade unit has seen the Huey. Marines sent a V-22 Osprey in the area to search, but found nothing. Members of Nepal’s army are searching on foot. (Federal News Radio)

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