Senate News 
Top News
- DoD to pursue commercial alternative to VA's VistA
- FedRAMP achieves another cloud security milestone
- Obama to nominate Tangherlini as GSA administrator
- PHOTOS: Meet the 2013 Service to America Medal Finalists
- House GOP panel moves on deep budget cuts
- OMB fuels synergy between mobile, open data
- Star witness to stay mum for IRS hearing
- OMB reworking financial system requirements to focus on outcomes, not inputs
- Today, everybody's an Oklahoma Sooner
- Retirement funds temporarily tapped to avoid debt limit default
- VanRoekel to lead OMB management team
- SBA starting new lending program for veterans
- New Apple devices cleared to join DoD IT networks
- Army prioritizes access to data in fight over intelligence IT system
- Bonuses under fire at GSA, other agencies
- Wednesday federal headlines - May 22, 2013
Lawmakers debate pay cutoff for budget gridlock
Even the top sponsor of a bill that would cut off lawmakers' pay if they can't _ or won't _ pass a budget blueprint admits many of his colleagues think it's just a political talking point instead of a serious idea.
Senate passes highway bill, including 'phased retirements,' transit subsidy
The Senate voted Wednesday to overhaul transportation programs and keep aid flowing to thousands of construction projects while strengthening highway. The $109 billion measure, approved in a 74-22 vote, included a number of amendments affecting federal pay and benefits, including a provision to allows "phased retirements" for federal employees and an expansion of an expired mass-transit subsidy.
Senate committee review Energy's loan guarantee program
Andrew Restuccia, reporter for the Hill, gives an update on the debate.
Report raises concerns for homeless female vets
Federal investigators expressed concerns Monday for the safety of some female veterans who rely on homeless shelters after inspections showed women housed in shelters approved only for men.
McCain will block most DoD reprogramming requests
Unless it's an emergency, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) told Defense Secretary Leon Panetta he would block requests by the Defense Department for reprogramming requests to move money between budget accounts.
Contracting reform
Host Roger Waldron and Jim Schweiter, partner at McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP will talk about legislation affecting the contracting community.
March 13, 2012
Analysis: 2013 DoD budget 'far short of what is adequate'
Dr. James Carafano, director of the Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies at the Heritage Foundation, discussed his perspective on the 2013 defense budget request.
Senate ready to pass highway programs overhaul
In a rare display of deal-making between Republicans and Democrats in a bitterly partisan election year, the Senate was poised to pass an overhaul of highway and transit programs that would give states more flexibility in how they spend federal money and would step up the pace of road construction by shortening environmental reviews.
Senate rejects pay freeze amendment to transportation bill
The Senate has defeated an amendment to a transportation bill that would have extended the federal pay freeze through 2013. In a 57-41 vote, lawmakers rejected the amendment, introduced last week by Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.). The measure needed 60 votes to pass. Federal unions applauded the news.
Analysis: DoD budget debate about U.S. world role
Lt. Gen. David Barno, a senior adviser and senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security and a retired Army general, joined In Depth with Francis Rose to discuss his testimony before the Senate Budget Committee about the Defense Department's 2013 budget request.
Senate bill aims to speed up elimination of excess federal properties
Bipartisan legislation in the Senate aims to streamline the elimination of excess federal properties by setting up a council within agencies and the Office of Management and Budget and creating government-wide property disposal goals.
Senate amendment would extend pay freeze through 2013
Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) introduced an amendment Thursday to the Senate Highway Bill that would extend the federal pay freeze for another year as part of special deficit reduction trust fund.
Analysis: Incremental approach on cyber legislation more effective
Paul Rosenzweig, a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation and the former the deputy assistant secretary for policy at the Homeland Security Department, joined In Depth with Francis Rose to discuss competing cybersecurity legislation in both the House and Senate.
How common are government trademarks?
A group of 14 senators is urging the Department of Veterans Affairs to seek a trademark for the phrase, GI Bill. But just how common are government trademarks? We ask Deborah Cohn, commissioner for trademarks at the Patent and Trademark Office.
Senate amendment lets retiring feds go part-time
Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) introduced an amendment to the Surface Transportation Bill that offers part-time employment to retiring feds. The Senate passed the amendment Thursday.
Lawmakers unveil Hatch Act update
A group of lawmakers has proposed an update to the law governing federal employees' political activity that would exempt some state and local employees and allow for a range of penalties other than automatic suspension for minor violations.
Senate committee seeks expert testimony on DoD budget
The Senate Budget Committee examined the FY 2013 budget request for the Defense Department Tuesday. Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) said providing funding for national security is the "single most important responsibility" of lawmakers and the government. Three expert witnesses also testified.
White House paints cyber attack picture for Hill
An interagency group of senior officials will brief Senate lawmakers today on what would be the response if the nation's critical infrastructure suffered a cyber attack. The meetings come as Senate lawmakers debate two cyber bills that try to address critical infrastructure protection.
Author compares current Senate to 'Great Senate' of '60s and '70s
Veteran Senate staffer authors book on the "great Senate" of the 1960s and 1970s. How does the current Senate compare to that revered body?
Will cyber bills offer real solutions or slogans?
Jim Lewis, the director and senior fellow of the Technology and Public Policy Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, joined In Depth with Francis Rose to discuss competing cyber proposals.
