Current Year Measure Also Moving

Meanwhile, Congress is moving a catchall measure for the rest of the current fiscal year needed because last year full-year funding was approved only for DoD, DHS and VA, with other agencies operating under a temporary funding measure now due to expire. The new measure contains many of the policy provisions that had been under consideration last year but that were stripped out in order to gain passage. This includes a moratorium through September 30 on starting any new contracting-out studies government-wide, plus language encouraging agencies to have federal employees perform new functions and to bring back work previously contracted out, particularly if that work is closely associated with inherently governmental functions, if the contract has been awarded in the last 10 years, or if there have been performance problems with the contract. The measure further would cut off funding for private collection of overdue tax debt. Also in the bill are long-standing provisions including prohibiting "lifestyle" and other training not directly related to the performance of an employee’s duties and continuing the general policies that FEHB plans not cover abortions but must cover prescription contraceptives.