Congress | Voter.org

VA looks to overhaul pay, ‘antiquated’ hiring processes in major veteran care bill

June 15, 2022 looks, Bill, care, Major, Veteran, hiring, ‘antiquated’, processes, overhaul0 comment

The Department of Veterans Affairs is preparing to transform its workforce and health care facilities in anticipation of legislation that would deliver a historic expansion of health care to veterans. The Senate is expected to reach a final vote this week on the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (Honoring Our PACT) Act. The legislation, at its core, would expand disability compensation and health care benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances during their military service. VA Secretary Denis McDonough told the Senate VA…

Federal workers injured on the job may soon have more treatment options

June 11, 2022 more, Options, federal, workers, soon, treatment, injured0 comment

To listen to the Federal Newscast on your phone or mobile device, subscribe in <a href=”https://www.podcastone.com/federal-newstalk?showAllEpisodes=true”>PodcastOne</a> or <a href=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/federal-newscast/id1053077930?mt=2″>Apple Podcasts</a>. The best listening experience on desktop can be found using Chrome, Firefox or Safari. <ul> <li>Federal workers who get injured on the job may soon have better access to workers’ compensation. The House <a href=”https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2022233″ target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>passes legislation</a> that would expand federal employees’ choice of medical providers. The act would cover the cost of medical care for injured federal workers who seek treatment from physician assistants and nurse practitioners. The current law limits…

House panel flexing its oversight muscles over JADC2 and CIO office

June 7, 2022 JADC2, Over, oversight, House, Office, panel, Muscles, flexing0 comment

One subcommittee focused on cyber issues is flexing its oversight muscles in its proposals for the 2023 defense authorization bill, trying to get to the bottom of slow IT and investigating the Defense Department’s overhaul of its command and control system. The House Armed Services Cyber, Innovative Technologies and Information Systems Subcommittee is asking the government’s watchdog to take a look at the Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) program. JADC2 is a huge undertaking that will change the way the military delivers its power by using shared data…

GAO says Air Force decision on SPACECOM location was sloppy

June 3, 2022 Location, SPACECOM, sloppy, says, Force, Decision0 comment

The Air Force may have picked the location for U.S. Space Command’s headquarters legally, but that doesn’t mean it did the job well. The Government Accountability Office says the service missed some serious best practices in its decision to move SPACECOM from Colorado Springs, Colorado to Huntsville, Alabama. The move provoked Congressional claims of foul play the Trump administration and a Defense Department Inspector General’s investigation. The GAO report, which the organization released Thursday, states that the Air Force only followed seven of the 21 analysis of alternatives best practices,…

Two agencies point the finger when it comes to keeping track of tech spending

May 30, 2022 Track, point, finger, Agencies, comes, keeping, Tech, spending0 comment

To listen to the Federal Newscast on your phone or mobile device, subscribe in <a href=”https://www.podcastone.com/federal-newstalk?showAllEpisodes=true”>PodcastOne</a> or <a href=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/federal-newscast/id1053077930?mt=2″>Apple Podcasts</a>. The best listening experience on desktop can be found using Chrome, Firefox or Safari. <ul> <li>A bill requiring federal agencies to come up with a plan to recycle their electric vehicle batteries moves ahead in Congress. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approves the <a href=”https://www.romney.senate.gov/romney-joins-colleagues-in-introducing-bipartisan-bill-to-ensure-appropriate-use-and-recycling-of-federal-electric-vehicle-batteries/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Strategic EV Management Act</a>. The bill requires the General Services Administration and the Office of Management and Budget to come up with a plan…

Is the current nomination process hurting national security?

May 26, 2022 security, Nomination, National, Hurting, Process, current0 comment

The nation’s national security may be taking a hit because of the length of time it takes to fill lesser-known, Senate-confirmed positions in the Defense Department, FEMA, Department of Homeland Security and other areas protecting U.S. citizens. That’s according to a new study from the Partnership for Public Service, which studying the amount of time it took to fill security-related nominations in post-9/11 America. The result is that considering the demands faced by natural disasters, global threats and other worrisome aspects of living on earth, the government is taking too…