Federal Daily - June 10, 2009

House Approves Veterans Job Protection Bill

On a voice vote, the House on June 8 passed a bill that would—if signed into law—protect veterans from losing their jobs when they are absent from work in order to receive medical treatment for service-connected disabilities. The Wounded Veteran Job Security Act, H.R. 466, would expand the protections of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act to include veterans with service-connected disabilities who seek an excused medical leave of absence. The bill also would allow vets seeking medical attention to retain seniority, health, pension and other benefits. The bill has specific protections for veterans who are federal workers. Under current law, federal employees taking unpaid leave cannot contribute to or receive a matching contribution from their employers to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). H.R. 466 would allow eligible veterans to make up the missed TSP contributions after they return to work. The employing agency then would be required to make a matching contribution. Based on TSP participation rates from the Office of Personnel Management, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that approximately 5,700 veterans annually would contribute to their TSP after returning to work and would receive a 3 percent matching contribution. “Recognizing the special needs of injured veterans and openness to work with these men and women is a crucial step that allows our veterans the ability to heal and remain gainfully employed,” said Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. To see more, go to: http://veterans.house.gov/news/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=421.

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Frieden Takes Over as CDC Head

Thomas R. Frieden, the former New York City (NYC) health commissioner, took over as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and administrator for the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry on June 8. Considered a dynamic manager, Frieden, 48, returns to an agency where he worked as an expert in infectious diseases. Frieden was named director of CDC on May 15; his appointment does not require Senate confirmation. Frieden gained public notice while serving as NYC health commissioner when he pushed for a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants. “Dr. Frieden is widely regarded as one of the premier public health experts in the world and has a wealth of experience in public health and science,” Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said. Frieden earned his B.A. at Oberlin College in Ohio and his M.D. degree at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. To see more, go to: www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2009/r090608.htm.

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FLRA Nominees Draw Union Plaudits

Labor welcomed President Obama’s nomination last week of Ernie DuBester to fill the vacant member position on the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), and Julia A. Clark as FLRA general counsel. DuBester served as chairman and member of the National Mediation Board during the Clinton administration. Clark has served for the past 20 years as the International Federal of Professional Technical Engineers general counsel. The American Federation of Government Employees applauded both nominations in a June 5 statement. To see more, go to: www.afge.org/Index.cfm?Page=PressReleases&PressReleaseID=999 or
www.afge.org/Index.cfm?Page=PressReleases&PressReleaseID=1000. 

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