FederalDaily.com > New Research on Gulf War Illnesses

FederalDaily - April 27, 2006

New Research on Gulf War Illnesses

The University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center entered into an agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to research Gulf War-related illnesses, the VA announced on April 21. VA’s Undersecretary for Health Dr. Jonathan B. Perlin said, “This clear commitment to research will help us explore new ways to provide the best possible care to our veterans.” The VA said UT Southwestern will research ailments such as headaches, sleep disturbances and skin rashes, which have been reported at higher rates among Gulf War veterans than veterans that served in other regions. Legislation sponsored by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, set aside $15 million over the next five years for the research, the VA said.

IRS Lacks Info to Meet Tax Gap Goal

The IRS cannot accurately estimate the tax gap, which is the difference between tax dollars owed and tax dollars paid on time, according to a Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) audit report released this month. The audit also said the IRS does not have the information it needs to increase the voluntary compliance rate (VCR). TIGTA noted that two years ago Sen. Max Baucus, R.-Mont., called on the IRS to obtain a VCR of 90 percent by 2010, which would raise an additional $100 billion in taxes. However, TIGTA concluded that the IRS lacks the data to even get an accurate estimate of the tax gap. In particular, TIGTA found nonfiling, reporting compliance and payments collected information was unreliable. For instance, even the IRS admitted that underreporting estimates for small and large corporations—$5 billion and $25 billion respectively—are based on “weak” evidence dating back to the 1980s. TIGTA urged the IRS to improve data gathering and establish a tax gap advisory panel. The report is available online at www.ustreas.gov/tigta/auditreports/2006reports/200650077fr.html.

New Certification Requirements for DoD Personnel

Department of Defense (DoD) personnel and contractors involved in information assurance must now be certified by an independent, accredited credentialing body to abide by DoD Directive 8570.1M, according to a March press release by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The requirement, which took effect in December 2005, is the first of its kind in the federal government. According to ANSI, the certification requirement is compatible with the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act, which dictates government standards for using independent, accredited assessment programs. In addition, ANSI noted the recent change to Title 10 of the U.S. Code to allow the use of appropriated funds to pay for commercial crediting for military personnel.

NSPS Training Discussed Before Congress

The Senate Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia held a hearing in Honolulu, Hawaii, on April 12 to evaluate training and communications strategies being used for National Security Personnel System (NSPS) implementation. NSPS is the proposed new personnel system for Defense Department civilians. Maureen Kleintop, deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel for the Pacific Fleet, testified that, a year and a half ago, she appointed an implementation team to disseminate NSPS information, encourage employee participation and address employee concerns with online tools and brochures. Meanwhile, Benjamin Toyama, union representative for a wing of the AFL-CIO, blasted the NSPS implementation process which, he said, attempts to eliminate collective bargaining and limit input from employee representatives. “The government has failed miserably in gaining the trust of the workers and public for this to succeed,” Toyama said. To view the hearing testimony, go to http://hsgac.senate.gov/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Hearings.Detail&HearingID=343.