Congress | Voter.org

Agencies may need to change to adapt to post-COVID workplaces

May 18, 2022 Agencies, Adapt, postCOVID, workplaces, need, Change0 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>The Small Business Administration is coming under fire for how it has managed a key loan program to help businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. <a href=”https://republicans-smallbusiness.house.gov/uploadedfiles/5-17-22_-_letter_on_closing_of_eidl_to_sba_for_distribution.pdf” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Seventeen Republican lawmakers</a> wrote to SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman seeking information about how the agency managed the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. The lawmakers say administrative missteps continued to…

How much does inflation actually matter to DoD and can it be fixed?

May 10, 2022 Actually, much, fixed, Matter, Inflation0 comment

The word inflation is being bantered about in Congress relating to the Pentagon’s 2023 budget quite a bit as senior leaders justify their funding decisions for the upcoming year. However, how important is inflation to the actual military budget, especially when the budget, after all, is just a recommendation? Last week, the Defense Department provided important information to Congress on how it is thinking about the nation’s inflation rate in terms of next year’s budget. The letter, requested by both Armed Services Committees’ ranking members, provided tidbits of insider knowledge…

What the ones who actually have a say in next year’s budget are saying

May 6, 2022 Saying, Ones, budget, Next, Actually, Years0 comment

Best listening experience is on Chrome, Firefox or Safari. Subscribe to Federal Drive’s daily audio interviews on <a href=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/federal-drive-with-tom-temin/id1270799277?mt=2″>Apple Podcasts</a> or <a href=”https://www.podcastone.com/federal-drive-with-tom-temin?pid=1753589″>PodcastOne</a>. The Biden administration’s budget proposal for 2023 would give magnificent, double-digit increases to some large agencies, notably Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services and Commerce. But can Congress deal with it in any meaningful way by Oct. 1? The <a href=”https://federalnewsnetwork.com/category/temin/tom-temin-federal-drive/”>Federal Drive with Tom Temin</a> got analysis from Bloomberg Government congress reporter Jack Fitzpatrick. Interview transcript: <blockquote>Tom Temin: Jack, good to have you back. Jack Fitzpatrick: Thanks…

Congress is working to establish some order for the 2023 budget process

May 2, 2022 Some, working, Process, order, Establish, 2023, Congress, budget0 comment

Best listening experience is on Chrome, Firefox or Safari. Subscribe to Federal Drive’s daily audio interviews on <a href=”https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/federal-drive-with-tom-temin/id1270799277?mt=2″>Apple Podcasts</a> or <a href=”https://www.podcastone.com/federal-drive-with-tom-temin?pid=1753589″>PodcastOne</a>. Members of Congress know the budget process, their primary mission in life, is a mess. But some efforts are brewing that at least some members hope will get the 2023 budget process under control. The <a href=”https://federalnewsnetwork.com/category/temin/tom-temin-federal-drive/”>Federal Drive with Tom Temin</a> got the latest now from Bloomberg Government deputy news director Loren Duggan. Interview transcript: <blockquote>Tom Temin: Tell us, Loren, what’s going on here with the…

House lawmakers seek VA EHR pause, ‘gravely concerned’ for patient safety

April 28, 2022 Lawmakers, seek, safety, concerned, pause, 'gravely, patient, House0 comment

System outages and patient safety concerns associated with the Department of Veterans Affairs’ new electronic health record (EHR) have led to top members of the House VA Committee calling for the agency to stop future rollouts. VA officials told the technology modernization subcommittee Tuesday that the VA medical center in Walla Walla, Washington, experienced EHR outages Monday and Tuesday this week. In light of these and <a href=”https://federalnewsnetwork.com/it-modernization/2022/04/va-looking-into-root-cause-of-ehr-outage-that-also-hit-dod-coast-guard/”>other recent outages</a>, Cerner officials told lawmakers the company is considering a technical review of the EHR to ensure the system is stable…

Members of Congress want State Dept to go to bat for LGBTQ diplomats

April 24, 2022 state, Congress, want, Dept., diplomats, members, LGBTQ0 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>Many political appointees, along with the vice president, can expect a freeze on their salaries to continue through at least the end of 2022. The <a href=”https://www.chcoc.gov/content/continued-pay-freeze-certain-senior-political-officials-6″ target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Office of Personnel Management</a> released details that the impacted groups are paid at or above the level for Executive Schedule IV. That includes employees serving in Executive Schedule positions and…