A House-passed bill (HR-5) covering a range of civil rights provisions includes several protecting federal employees and job applicants from discriminatory practices based on their gender identity or sexual orientation. That would put into law what traditionally has been the policy under a series of executive orders whose status was called into question late last year under revised OPM guidance.
One would specifically add sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of characteristics that are covered by Civil Service Reform Act requirements that applicants and employees receive fair and equitable treatment regardless of those characteristics; another would make a similar clarification in law that prohibits a supervisor from discriminating against an employee based on those characteristics; and a third would clarify that they are among the characteristics protected from discrimination under the Civil Rights Act.
Meanwhile, the Senate Intelligence Committee has passed S-245, which would provide 12 weeks of paid leave to new parents, including adoptive and foster parents, to civilian employees within the intelligence community. While the language would apply only to those agencies, it could set precedent for extension to other agencies, as well.
Also, the House is set to vote this week on HR-1994, which would raise from 70 ½ to 72 the age at which certain distributions are required from the TSP and similar retirement savings programs, effective with persons who attain age 70 ½ in 2020 and after. The bill also would make numerous other changes to retirement savings programs, including allowing withdrawals without tax penalty for expenses related to childbirth or adoption. A similar bill (S-972) has been introduced in the Senate.