Law and Order

Federal pay and benefits are on the chopping block with the latest raft of proposed cuts coming from Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla. Any debt ceiling deal will more than likely include some sacrifices for government workers. There's one group of federal employees, though, that is getting enhanced retirement benefits: Customs and Border Protection officers.

CBP officers of the Homeland Security Department now are considered law enforcement officers for the purpose of retirement, according to a final rule published July 18 in the Federal Register. Employees under the Civil Service Retirement System and the Federal Employees Retirement System now are eligible for early retirement. Law enforcement officer status also means higher employer and employee retirement contribution rates and a mandatory retirement age of 57, with agency authority to extend that to age 60.

The 2008 Homeland Security Appropriations Act mandated the status change.

Free Child Care

The Veterans Affairs Department will offer free child care service at three VA medical centers across the country, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki announced recently. The pilot centers where vets can drop off their kids for day care are in Buffalo and Northport, New York, and Tacoma, Wash.

"We know that many veterans, particularly women veterans, are the primary caretakers of young children," Shinseki said. "We want these veterans to have the opportunity to access the high-quality care that VA offers, and we believe that these child care centers will make it easier for veteran caregivers to visit VA."

The drop-in services are offered only to vets who are eligible for VA care and are visiting a facility for an appointment. The Northport center has a 30-child capacity and takes children ages 6 weeks to 12 years; the Buffalo center has a 10-child capacity, caring for kids ages 6 weeks to 12 years; and the Tacoma facility has varying capacity for children ages 6 weeks to 10 years.

Congress created the initiative as part of a 2010 law to improve health services for vets and caregivers.

Hot Feds

Most of the country is smack dab in the middle of a torrid heat wave and the Office of Personnel Management wants to make sure feds don't get baked.

OPM Director John Berry sent a memo to agency chief human capital officers and human resources directors reiterating the importance of keeping federal employees, especially those who work outdoors, hydrated (with water and other liquids -- potable and nonalcoholic, of course). He also included helpful links to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Weather Service, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Stay cool, and remember: You've got the right to remain hydrated this summer.