FederalDaily - August 29, 2005
NIH Ethics Regulations Finalized
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced on Aug. 25 final regulations
on reporting certain financial interests, stock divestiture, outside activities
and awards for its employees. The major features of the final rules are:
- The basic prohibition on outside consulting by NIH staff
with substantially affected organizations, such as pharmaceutical,
biotechnology or medical device manufacturing companies.
- Divestiture of all holdings in substantially affected organizations
in excess of $15,000 per company will be required for all senior
NIH employees and their spouses and minor children.
- The receipt of monetary awards from outside sources will
continue to be contingent upon prior approval.
- NIH scientists are permitted to engage in compensated academic
outside activities such as teaching courses at universities,
writing general textbooks.
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MilitaryAcademy Sexual
Harassment Report Completed
The Department of Defense (DoD) announced the completion of the report of
the Defense Task Force on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service
Academies last week. The report covers the U.S. Military Academy at West Point,
N.Y., and the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md. The task force consisted
of six military and six civilian members. Their report contains more than 40
specific findings and attendant recommendations. The report assessed the policies,
practices and procedures for dealing with sexual harassment. It now goes for
review by department officials then it will be transmitted to Congress. For
more information, contact DoD public affairs or the task force public affairs
at (703) 325-6391.
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Better Health Benefits For Some Military Families
Starting Sept. 1, TRICARE’s Extended Care Health Option will be available
for beneficiaries of active duty family members with “defined qualifying
conditions.” According to the Air Force, this new program will deliver
financial assistance and additional benefits, including supplies and services,
beyond those available within TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Standard or TRICARE Extra.
The benefit also increases the monthly government cost share from $1,000 to
$2,500 per eligible family member. Additionally, homebound beneficiaries may
qualify for extended in-home health care. The qualifying conditions for these
benefits include:
- moderate or severe mental retardation;
- a serious physical disability; and
- an extraordinary physical or psychological condition of
such complexity that the beneficiary is homebound.
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Bureau of Prison Reports on Whistleblower Allegations
After investigating allegations of Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) violations, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, part of the Department of
Justice, conceded that its staff and inmate workers who work on computer recycling
were exposed to harmful heavy metals above allowable OSHA limits, according
to a report released on Aug. 24 by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility
(PEER). The report was prepared in response to a whistleblower disclosure filed
last year by Leroy Smith, the safety manager for the U.S. Penitentiary in Atwater,
Calif., with the Office of Special Counsel. To see the report, go to www.peer.org/news/news_id.php?row_id=580.
Smith is also alleging retaliation for blowing the whistle. He currently has
an attorney representing him in an action seeking a transfer out of Atwater
and restoration of a lost promotion, PEER stated.
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