Federal Daily - June 13, 2008
House Panel Approves CBP LEO Benefits
In its markup of the homeland security funding bill, a House subcommittee has restored full funding
for $217 million in enhanced law enforcement officer (LEO) benefits for Customs and Border Protection
(CBP) officers. Congress granted LEO status to CBP officers last year, but President Bush sought—in
his Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 budget—to repeal the LEO status, and zero-funded the program. But the
House Appropriations Homeland Security subcommittee rejected the repeal, and fully funded the benefits
in its June 11 markup of the FY 2009 Homeland Security Appropriations Act. The bill also includes $39.9
billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Homeland Security—$2.2 billion (6 percent)
more than FY 2008. It also provides funding for an additional 4,085 CBP personnel, including more CBP
officers and 100 additional agricultural specialists. The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU),
which fought for the LEO status mandate and has called for more CBP officers, applauded the measure. “Each
of these provisions in the subcommittee markup is a major step forward not only for CBP and its employees,
but for the security of our nation,” NTEU President Colleen Kelley said. To see more, go to: http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/PriceSubMarkup06-11-08.pdf.
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Lawmaker Calls for More Fed Hiring of Ex-Offenders
Despite a new law that encourages the hiring of ex-offenders, agencies could do a better job of bringing
job applicants with criminal records into the federal workplace, said Danny K. Davis, D-Ill., chairman
of the House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee on the Federal Workforce. Davis spoke at
a June 10 hearing that examined federal agency policies in light of the passage of the Second Chance
Act, sponsored by Davis, which President Bush signed in April. It aims to help states and local governments
assist ex-offenders to re-enter society. But aside from progress in certain branches of the military,
there is little evidence that ex-offenders have been hired by the federal government, Davis said. “The
fact is that we as a country and employer continue to fall short in our attempt to eliminate barriers
to employment for ex-offenders,” said Davis. In testimony to the panel, Maj. Gen. Thomas Bostick,
of the Army Recruiting Command, said the service grants waivers to ex-offenders who do not pose any
particular threat. And, an Army study showed the 17,000 soldiers admitted with conduct waivers re-enlisted
at a higher rate and advanced to the rank of sergeant faster compared to those who enlisted without
waivers. To see more, go to: http://federalworkforce.oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1994.
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Senate Confirms Leiter as NCTC Director
The Senate confirmed Michael Leiter on June 10 as director of the National Counterterrorism Center
(NCTC). He has been acting director of NCTC since November 2007, and was its principal deputy director
from February through November 2007. Before joining NCTC, Leiter served as the deputy chief of staff
for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, where he assisted in the establishment of
the office and was involved in the development of national intelligence centers. Leiter holds a law
degree from Harvard Law School. NCTC serves as the primary federal agency tasked with developing the
analysis and integration of all terrorism intelligence and strategic planning. To see more, go to: www.dni.gov.
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Wolf Urges Better Cyber-Security for Congressional Office
Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., urged lawmakers June 10 to upgrade security for congressional computer and
information systems and sought a more open dialogue about computer security problems. “Despite
everything we read in the press, our intelligence, law enforcement, national security and diplomatic
corps remain hesitant to speak out about this problem. Perhaps they are afraid that talking about this
problem will reveal our vulnerability,” said Wolf, whose office computers were hit by a 2006
cyber-attack. “But our adversaries already know we are vulnerable. Pretending that we are not
vulnerable is a mistake.” Wolf noted that computer attacks have targeted sensitive information
on the networks of at least seven federal agencies—the departments of Defense, State, Energy,
Commerce, Health and Human Services, Agriculture, and Treasury. Attacks also have targeted DoD contractors,
including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, General Electric, Raytheon, and General Dynamics. In the August
2006 attack on his office, Wolf said hackers hit four computers that contained information about all
of the casework Wolf had done on behalf of political dissidents and human rights activists around the
world. To see more, go to: http://wolf.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=34&
parentid=6§iontree=6,34&itemid=1174.
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