FederalDaily - May 25, 2005

Appropriations Committee Emphasizes Military Mental Health

The House Committee on Appropriations approved on May 18 th the FY 2006 Military Quality of Life Appropriations, including $2.2 billion for specialty mental health care. The bill also doubles funding for mental health research. Further, it requires a comprehensive study on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, focusing on improving mental health research, care and access to information.  Under the bill, veterans’ medical services would be funded at $21 billion, which is $1 billion above the budget request and $1.64 billion above FY 2005. The bill provides $20 billion for the Defense Health Program, including $210 million for cancer research.

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Tax Benefit for Soldiers in Combat

The House passed the Heroes Earned Retirement Opportunities Act, H.R. 1499, on May 23. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to include combat zone pay (which is usually excluded from gross income for tax purposes) as earned income for purposes of investing in retirement savings plans and receiving tax deductions for such contributions. Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., introduced the bill last month, with 47 cosponsors. Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., introduced similar legislation in the Senate in March, but the Senate has not voted on it yet. The bill would allow members of the armed services serving in a combat zone to make contributions to their individual retirement plans, even if the pay they use to make such contributions is tax-free.

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AFGE Sues EEOC Over Missed Meeting

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) filed a lawsuit in district court against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for not giving enough notice about an upcoming EEOC meeting. AFGE said EEOC violated the Open Meetings Act. Under the law, meetings and agendas must be publicly announced one week in advance. However, on March 23, EEOC announced its intentions to hold a meeting the following day, March 24. At the meeting, the EEOC discussed and approved its regulatory agenda for spring 2005 and conducted other business. Because of the short notice provided to the public, AFGE officers and members employed by the EEOC “were deprived of their right to attend the meeting,” according to AFGE.

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Government Fellowship Applications Available

The non-profit Council for Excellence in Government, of Washington, D.C., is accepting applications for its Excellence in Government Fellows and e-Government Fellows programs for mid-level federal and state employees now through July 22. The programs are year-long and include hands-on projects. Since 1988, the programs have included more than 2,000 participants from all Cabinet departments and major agencies. For an online application, go to www.excelgov.org. For more information, call Chris Wingo at (202-728-0418. The Council for Excellence in Government works to attract people for public service; encourage results-oriented performance in government; promote electronic government t; and improve the connection between citizens and government.

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