Numerous Bills Still Pending

Both chambers have passed numerous bills not taken up by the other, including a number of proposed restrictions backed by the House on federal employee awards and provisions calling for disciplinary actions in various situations. That list includes a wide-ranging bill to make it easier to take discipline against senior executives, a bill that is not as sweeping as changes already enacted for execs only at VA but that is widely seen as a potential precedent for other levels of employees. The Senate has shown no intent to take up those proposals — although their prospects for enactment will increase next year with Republican control of the Senate. The Senate but not the House meanwhile has backed a plan to revamp “administratively uncontrollable overtime” for border patrol agents, seen as a precedent for similar changes for other eligible law enforcement personnel. And Senate sponsors will make one more attempt to move long-stalled postal reform legislation that could have government-wide implications for the FEHB and injury compensation programs, as well as pave the way for various operating changes that could result in the loss of postal jobs. And only a final round of voting is needed to grant final approval to a plan passed in slightly differing versions by both chambers to make the age-appropriate lifecycle fund the default investment in the TSP for newly hired employees who do not designate an investment fund.