FederalDaily - November 6, 2006
Marshals Nab 10,000 Fugitives
The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) completed a seven-day, nationally coordinated fugitive roundup, arresting
10,773 fugitives. Of those captured, 1,659 were fugitive sex offenders, the largest number ever captured
in a single law enforcement effort. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales on Nov. 2 announced the results
of the roundup, called Operation FALCON III (Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally) Conducted
in 24 states east of the Mississippi River, the effort sought high-priority targets for arrest, including
fugitives wanted for committing sexual offenses. Of the fugitive sex offenders apprehended, 971 were
wanted on charges of failing to register. Other priority targets were fugitive gang members and violent
offenders. The final tallies were impressive—agents apprehended 364 gang members, cleared 140
open homicide cases and confiscated more than 230 weapons. “Operation FALCON has once again
proven how much we can accomplish with our network of federal, state and local law enforcement,” said
Gonzales. To see the Department of Justice press release, go to: www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2006/November/06_ag_744.html
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Group Calls for Changes in Federal Procurement Policy
A trade association said that changes need to be made in the way the government buys the billions
of dollars of goods and services each year from the private sector. The Professional Services Council
(PSC)—a national trade association of the government professional and technical services industry—on
Nov. 2 released a survey of the federal acquisition community. Many felt major changes were needed
in the federal acquisition process. Respondents pointed to disconnects between the acquisition community
and the oversight community – which includes offices of inspectors general, the Government Accountability
Office, the Defense Contract Audit Agency, and other federal audit agencies and congressional entities.
Nearly all survey respondents said that the acquisition and oversight communities do not share the
same views on appropriate roles and responsibilities. Respondents said there is too much after-the-fact
criticism for using procedures they said are allowed under acquisition regulations, but not entirely
accepted within the oversight community. This was particularly highlighted in the aftermath of Hurricane
Katrina, the report said. To see more, go to: www.pscouncil.org/pdfs/pressreleases/PPSRelease2.pdf
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Full Funding Needed for Veterans Healthcare, Group Says
A coalition of veterans service organizations urged full funding in FY 2007 for the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA), noting VA funding growth has not nearly kept pace with patient workload demands.
The Partnership for Veterans Health Care Budget Reform sent a letter Nov. 1 to House Veterans Affairs
Committee Chairman Steve Buyer (R-Ind.). The group asked Buyer to schedule hearings on legislation
that would replace the current discretionary funding mechanism with a more dependable budgetary method.
The group suggests the committee take a closer look at H.R. 515 (Assured Funding for Veterans Health
Care Act), sponsored by Rep. Lane Evans, D-Ill, and now languishing in committee. The bill would mandate
that Veterans Health Administration FY 2007 funding amount to at least 130 percent of the total obligated
during FY 2005. It would also adjust the amount provided for fiscal years after FY 2007 based on the
number of enrolled veterans, and the number of other persons eligible but not enrolled who are provided
care. The government estimates that enacting H.R. 515 would result in a net increase in direct spending
totaling about $179 billion over the 2007-2010 period. “The discretionary budget has become highly
politicized and puts at risk the VA healthcare system and its patient population,” the letter
noted. To see more, go to: www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=3652
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