Scarborough to chair House panel on civil service

Rep. Joe Scarborough, R-Fla., has again been named chair of the House panel that oversees federal employee pay and benefits issues. House Government Reform Chairman Dan Burton, R-Ind., announced subcommittee chairs last week. Scarborough was chair of the House Government Reform Subcommittee on the Civil Service in the 106th congress. This year, the committee's name has been changed to the "Subcommittee on Civil Service and Agency Organization." The subcommittee's focus will still include oversight of federal compensation, job classification and retirement. The committee's name has been expanded to "reflect what the committee actually does," said Mick Serrano, a spokesman for Scarborough. Though no firm agenda will be set for the committee until all of its members are chosen, Serrano said workforce planning and cafeteria-style health plans will be hot topics in the 107th Congress. Scarborough won a major legislative victory last session, when he introduced legislation (H.R. 4040) offering long-term care insurance for civilian and military federal employees and retirees. The measure earned broad bipartisan support, and President Clinton signed the bill into law in September. The subcommittee will continue to monitor the Office of Personnel Management's implementation of the long-term care bill, Serrano said. Scarborough's congressional district is home to the Pensacola Naval Complex and Eglin Air Force Base, which together employ more than 20,000 military and civilian personnel.