The Senate has approved a bill (S-129) containing revisions to federal personnel policies including: allowing compensatory time off for time spent on official travel that is not otherwise compensated; redefining retention allowances as retention bonuses and making them contingent on service agreements of up to four years; allowing easier approval of “critical pay” above normal limits for especially in-demand positions; changing CSRS annuity calculations to end the reduction in benefits affecting some employees who switch to part-time work late in their careers; and requiring agencies to put greater emphasis on training and succession planning. A House counterpart bill (HR-1601) may see committee action soon.