Federal Daily - September 18, 2009

Pay Disparities Continue for Deployed Civilian Employees, GAO Says

Although progress has been made, deployed civilian employees—working side-by-side in the same overseas combat zone—may receive different levels of compensation because they serve under different federal pay systems, Government Accountability Office (GAO) officials told lawmakers Sept. 16. GAO examined the experiences of workers deployed through six federal agencies to Iraq and Afghanistan. GAO’s Brenda S. Farrell testified on the issue at a House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee hearing. While policies concerning compensation for deployed civilians are generally comparable across the deploying agencies studied, GAO found issues that affect the amount of compensation.For example, two comparable civilian employees who deploy under different pay systems may receive different rates of overtime pay. Specifically, a non-supervisory GS-12 Step 1 employee receives less money for overtime hours than a non-supervisory National Security Personnel System employee who earns an equivalent salary. Additionally, deployed civilians may receive different compensation based on their deployment status—for example, whether they were deployed in “temporary duty” or “change of station” status. Civilians deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan as a change of station do not receive locality pay, but do receive base salary and may be eligible for a separate maintenance allowance which varies in amount based on the number of dependents the civilian has, the report said. Since 2001, over 35,000 federal employees have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in support of ongoing combat missions, said the subcommittee’s chairman, Stephen F. Lynch, D-Mass. “Reports of benefit discrepancies, bureaucratic hurdles, and inaccessibility to quality medical care in the case of returned deployed federal employees are extremely concerning and accordingly, require a comprehensive assessment,” Lynch said. To see more, go to: http://federalworkforce.oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=2586 or www.gao.gov/highlights/d091019thigh.pdf.

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USDA Turns Off Cafeteria Deep-Fryers as Part of Healthy Food Initiative

In an effort to improve the health of federal employees, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) turned off the deep-fryers for one day on Sept. 16 at two USDA cafeterias in the District of Columbia, the agency announced. The effort is part of a USDA pilot program, “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food,” intended to improve the health of the federal workforce and connect them with local food producers. USDA operates cafeterias in the Whitten and South buildings that typically serve 3,000 employees and visitors each day. During the one-week pilot effort, USDA’s cafeterias featured a local food menu including apples, cucumbers, eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash, mushrooms, potatoes, tomatoes and green beans. USDA also posted signs indicating calorie counts for most menu items. Although soda machines stayed open, USDA installed signs that urged employees to consider alternative beverages, such as water, juice or milk, the agency said. “With roughly 70 percent of healthcare costs directly related to lifestyle choices, we want to encourage federal employees to live healthier by eating healthier,” Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan said. “We have big plans for our cafeterias. Already, we no longer cook with trans fats.” To see more, go to: www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB/.cmd/ad/.ar/sa.
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Bill Would Extend Homebuyer Credit to Overseas Feds

Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., on Sept. 16 introduced a bill that would, if signed into law, allow deployed servicemembers as well as foreign service and intelligence community workers serving oversees to qualify for the 2009 First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit. A tax credit of up to $8,000 is available for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing a principal residence from Jan. 1 to Dec. 1, 2009. However, the law requires the buyer to live in the home for 36 consecutive months, which is difficult for those in overseas service, Blumenauer said. The bill, the Call to Service Homebuyer Credit Act, H.R. 3573, would count duty away from home as time spent fulfilling the 36-month occupancy requirement. The bill also gives a second chance to those who served away from home in 2009 by extending the credit for one year. “America’s men and women who are called to service deserve the same benefits as everyone else,” Blumenauer said. “It is absurd that thousands of Americans serving our country must choose between their service work and home ownership.” The bill is supported by the American Foreign Service Association. To see more, go to: http://blumenauer.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content
&task=blogcategory&id=19&Itemid=170.

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