Spending Bill Contains Familiar Provisions

The catchall budget bill contains several long-running provisions affecting certain federal personnel programs. The measure would continue requirements that: the Federal Employees Health Benefits program generally cover prescription contraceptives but generally not cover abortions; bar “lifestyle” and other training not directly related to official duties; and prohibit agencies from disclosing names and home addresses of employees to labor organizations or other groups without the employee’s permission or a court order. It also contains a new provision that would link raises for blue-collar employees to GS raises by locality, rather than by the average GS raise.