FederalDaily - October 31, 2005
DoD Addresses Military and Civilian Pay
The Department of Defense (DoD) last week said that improving the process
that provides servicemembers with correct pay and allowances is part of the
department’s plan to modernize. This announcement, which pertains to
military members, corresponded with the announcement that DoD is rolling out
its new pay and personnel system for its civilian employees too, called the
National Security Personnel System. In regards to military members, DoD currently
lacks an overarching system to integrate pay-related personnel actions occurring
in the field—such as inputting an authorization for combat or danger
pay—with pay disbursement made by the Defense Finance and Accounting
Service, said Thomas B. Modly, deputy undersecretary of defense for financial
management.
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Making Government Credit Card Bills Public
Rep. Mike Sodrel, R-Ind., announced last week that he is co-sponsoring the
Government Credit Card Sunshine Act, H.R. 4089, which requires every government
credit card bill to be posted on the Department of the Inspector General’s
Web site within 15 business days. Sodrel said recent reports of outlandish
purchases made by government employees on government credit cards show the
need for this bill. “In recent months we have seen egregious credit card
abuses by employees of the federal government,” Sodrel said. “This
legislation not only makes the details of government credit card purchases
available to Congress and the public, it also creates strong penalties for
government employees who make abusive purchases.” The bill states that
federal employees whose abuse totals more than $500 shall face immediate dismissal,
be forced to repay the bill, and if applicable, return the items purchased.
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GAO Criticizes NASA’s Finances
NASA faces major financial management challenges, a new Government Accountability
Office (GAO) report says. NASA has been on GAO’s high-risk list since
1990 because of its failure to effectively oversee its contracts. Also, the
agency’s financial statements remain un-auditable. NASA’s most
significant management challenges include improving contract management, producing
credible cost estimates, and producing auditable financial statements. But
NASA’s new financial management system has not addressed many of these
issues, GAO said. GAO added that the new system lacks basic functionality—such
as the ability to correctly and consistently post transactions to the right
accounts. NASA also failed to recognize the importance and need for highly
skilled, well-trained financial personnel. To read the report, go to www.gao.gov/new.items/d06216t.pdf.
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Better Health Tracking Needed for Reservists
The Department of Defense (DoD) expects future use of the reserve force to
remain high. Operational readiness depends on healthy and fit personnel, the
Government Accountability Office (GAO) said. However, a new GAO report found
that longstanding problems have been identified with reserve members not being
in proper medical or physical condition. GAO studied DoD's management of the
health status of reserve members activated for Operations Enduring Freedom
and Iraqi Freedom. Evidence GAO developed suggests that members are deployed
into theater with preexisting conditions, such as diabetes, heart problems
and cancer. Also, DoD is unable to determine the extent to which the reserve
force complied with routine examinations due to lack of complete or reliable
data. Drilling members in the reserve force by law are required to have a medical
exam every five years and an annual certificate of their medical status. Policies
also require an annual dental exam and an annual evaluation of physical fitness.
To read the report, go to www.gao.gov/new.items/d06105.pdf.
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