FederalDaily - November 9, 2005
Unions File Suit against NSPS
On Nov. 7 the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) along with
nine other unions filed a law suit in the US District Court for the District
of Columbia challenging new Department of Defense (DoD) personnel rules. An
earlier suit that challenged the rules on a statutory basis, originally filed
last February, also was filed for a second time. AFGE alleges that the new
National Security Personnel System “has significantly narrowed employees’ rights
to collective bargaining and all but eliminated the due process rights that
enable employees to speak with confidence when they see wrongdoing or mismanagement.” AFGE
further alleges that DoD failed to consult with unions when crafting the new
personnel rules.
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Push for Tighter Immigration Enforcement
Reps. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., and Virgil Goode, R-Va. have introduced legislation
to the House that would provide 10,000 new border patrol agents and 4,000 federal
agents to provide better security along the southern border of the U.S. The
bill includes provisions called for in pending legislation sponsored by Rep.
Charlie Norwood, R-Ga., the CLEAR Act (Clear Law Enforcement for Removal of
Criminal Illegal Aliens Act of 2005). Norwood has endorsed Hunter and Goode’s
bill, stating, "This bill is a step in the right direction for securing
our borders." Norwood’s provisions call for funding and training
for local law enforcement to assist with the enforcement of U.S. immigration
laws. Several sections in the CLEAR Act have passed in the House as amendments
to the Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act and the First Responders
Act.
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5 Soldiers Charged with Abuse
Five U.S. soldiers from the 75th Ranger Regiment were charged on Nov. 5 with
violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice related to allegations of
detainee abuse. The allegations stem from an incident on Sept. 7 in which three
detainees were allegedly punched and kicked by the soldiers as they were awaiting
movement to a detention facility. Upon discovery of the alleged abuse, officials
immediately launched an investigation, which ultimately led to the charges
being preferred, according to U.S. Central Command Headquarters. The office
also made a statement saying: “All allegations of abuse are taken very
seriously and investigated thoroughly, and appropriate action is taken based
on the findings of the investigation.”
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Bill Would Improve VA IT Management
The House passed the Department of Veterans Affairs Information Technology
Management Improvement Act of 2005 by a vote of 408-0. Under the legislation,
the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) chief information officer would be
held accountable for the agency’s information technology (IT) infrastructure
and have authority of the budget, personnel and other related assets. Rep.
Steve Buyer, R-Ind., chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs,
said, “Since coming to Congress, I have witnessed VA’s inability
to adequately manage its IT funding and modernization efforts.” Currently
VA has three separately-managed IT initiatives. “This legislation is
needed to begin the long process to finally streamline VA IT to ensure that
America’s veterans come first,” Buyer said. The bill now awaits
Senate approval.
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