The Latest Legislation

Most lawmakers have left Washington during the August recess, but there is a lot of work to be done when they return, including a number of unfinished bills in the Senate that address key federal pay and benefits issues.

A bill (S. 2657) that would provide federal employees and their families with access to voluntary dental and vision health insurance has generated the strongest reaction from Government Executive readers. The House previously passed a bill that would require the Office of Personnel Management to study how to improve federal vision, dental and hearing benefits, but the Senate legislation would actually require OPM to implement new benefits systems. The Federal Employee Dental and Vision Benefits Enhancement Act of 2004 was passed by the Senate Governmental Affairs in July and awaits action by the full Senate.

It is not yet clear how the two bills, if successful, would be reconciled. If OPM is required to implement new systems, members of the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program still would not incur any extra cost. The bill calls for federal personnel officials to use the buying power of the large federal workforce to secure favorable dental and vision benefit options for employees.

The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee recently passed a bill (S. 2409) to provide for continued health coverage for federal employees who are in the reserves and are called to active duty. That legislation, which applies to those enrolled in a federal employee health benefits plan, is backed by a bipartisan array of lawmakers. Agencies would be required to pay for their activated employees' health coverage for up to 24 months.

Another bill (S. 593) for federal workers who are called up to active duty-the Reservists Pay Security Act of 2003-also is awaiting Senate action. It would require the government to make up the difference in pay between a federal worker's civilian job and their military assignment.

In the House, the Federal Workforce Flexibility Act passed the Government Reform Committee in June. That bill would improve federal recruitment and retention by giving managers more leeway to dispense bonuses and benefits. It also would allow federal employees who dowork-related travel during nonbusiness hours-taking early morning or weekend flights, for example-to be compensated. The Senate has yet to take up this bill.