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READ THE CURRENT ISSUE OF THE FEDERAL MANAGER MAGAZINE!
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- Federal Facilities Need to be Part of National Infrastructure Upgrade, Says FMA - February 8, 2020
- Federal Manager's Daily ReportThe Federal Managers Association is urging that federal agency facilities not be left out of any nationwide infrastructure improvement initiative, saying many federal installations have “critical needs.”
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- Infrastructure Investments and Modernization Needed at Federal Installations - February 5, 2020
- Hear It from FMA, FedManager.comOn Wednesday, January 29, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and other top legislators in the House unveiled a $760 billion infrastructure package. They appealed to President Trump, who campaigned on a $1 trillion infrastructure plan, to join them in moving this funding forward. As recently as May 2019, the President was expected to propose a $2 trillion infrastructure package, but he urged Congress to first pass the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade deal. He signed that deal into place on January 29, the same day House Democrats offered their infrastructure proposal.
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- Groups Hope for at Least Partial Relief from Offsets - January 10, 2020
- FEDweekSeveral federal employee organizations have said that an opportunity may be at hand to gain relief from two Social Security-related offsets affecting many federal retirees, although that relief may come as less than a full repeal.The two provisions are called the government pension offset and the windfall elimination provision, both of which commonly affect those who are retired, or will retire, under the CSRS program which does not include Social Security. The former offset commonly reduces any personal Social Security benefit earned through other employment while the latter reduces and often eliminates a spousal or survivor Social Security benefit. While CSRS now makes up only about 5 percent of the active workforce, two-thirds of federal retirees went out under that system and about two-fifths of new retirees are under CSRS.
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- FMA Celebrates FY20 Funding and NDAA in the New Year - January 8, 2020
- Hear It from FMA, FedManager.comA year ago, the federal government was mired in a partial government shutdown, uncertainty, and frustration. And just a month ago, in early December 2019, the Federal Managers Association (FMA) expressed significant concerns about the costs of continuing resolutions on the federal workforce and the impact on day-to-day operations for managers. But a lot can happen in a month, and FMA is both proud and optimistic as we begin a new year.
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- FMA APPLAUDS HOUSE VOTE ON FY20 APPROPRIATIONS - December 18, 2019
- On Tuesday, December 17, 2019, the House of Representatives approved two spending packages that would fund the federal workforce for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2020. The funding package includes a 3.1 percent average for federal employees, comprised of a 2.6 percent across-the-board salary increase and a 0.5 percent average boost to locality pay. FMA is pleased with this development, which the association worked for throughout 2019.FMA supports both the pay raise and the spending deal. We urge the Senate to approve the measures, and President Trump to sign the bills into law, prior to the expiration of the current continuing resolution.
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- 3.1 PERCENT PAY RAISE EXPECTED FOR 2020 - December 16, 2019
- Congressional negotiators have an agreement in principle to fund the remainder of Fiscal Year 2020. The federal workforce is currently operating under a continuing resolution, which runs through December 20, 2019.While lawmakers are finalizing the spending deal, the package includes a 3.1 percent average pay raise for federal employees in 2020. This would be a 2.6 percent across-the-board increase, and a 0.5 percent boost to locality pay. FMA strongly supports the pay raise and is pleased with this news. We commend lawmakers for their efforts.
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- FMA PLEASED AND SATISFIED WITH FY2020 NDAA CONFERENCE REPORT - December 10, 2019
- This week lawmakers released the conference report for the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). FMA worked with legislators on many provisions, and we are pleased and satisfied with the final product.Specifically, the House bill would have modified the probationary period for Department of Defense (DOD) civilian employees from two years to one year. FMA appreciates that conferees instead maintained the current policy – which FMA supports – but require a report from the Secretary of Defense to formally analyze and assess how the policy is working. That is the reasonable and practical course of action.
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- FMA Hawaii: We Are Here For You - December 5, 2019
- Dear FMA Hawaii Family:We were shocked and heartbroken to learn about yesterday's senseless PHNS tragedy. We at the national office, and across all of Team FMA, are here for you. We send thoughts and prayers for peace and healing, and stand ready to help any way we can. Please reach out at (703) 683-8700 if we can be of assistance.Aloha mākou iā ʻoe.
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- A Billion Wasted Here, a Billion Wasted There - December 4, 2019
- Hear It from FMA, FedManager.comFormer Senator Everett McKinley Dirksen (R-IL) reportedly once said, “a billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you’re talking real money.” In recent years, untold billions have been squandered each year due to continuing resolutions (CRs).Most recently, on November 21, Congress finalized, and President Trump signed another continuing resolution (CR) into law. The second CR of Fiscal Year 2020, this one funds the federal government through December 20, 2019.
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- Sick Leave – The Gift That Keeps on Giving - November 21, 2019
- Working with Congress, the Federal Managers Association was the driving force behind the FERS Sick Leave Credit legislation that rewards feds for responsible use of leave.Reg Jones Expert's View, FEDweekSick leave is one of the government’s high-value benefits. Not only does it help when you are ill but it can also be used in other cases, such as childbirth, adoption, absence for funerals, and family care and bereavement.
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- CONTINUING RESOLUTION FUNDS GOVERNMENT THROUGH DECEMBER 20, 2019 - November 21, 2019
- Trump signs continuing resolution, keeping agencies open through Dec. 20On November 21, President Trump signed a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the federal government through December 20, 2019. Federal News Network reporter Nicole Ogrysko wrote a detailed article about the CR and the status of full-year appropriations. Ogrysko quoted FMA National President Renee Johnson, who expressed concern about the inefficenty and costs associated with CR's, in her article.
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- 2019 Sammies Winners Reveal the Inspiration for Their Public Service - October 17, 2019
- Todd Wells and Greg Stanford Honored to Represent FMA at Celebration of Outstanding Federal EmployeesJessie Bur, Federal TimesSix federal employees were recognized Oct. 16 as outstanding examples of federal service and recipients of the Partnership for Public Service’s Samuel J. Heyman Service to American Medals.“Our nation’s health and safety depend in significant measure on the work of career civil servants, who are largely unknown to the American people,” said Max Stier, president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, in a news release. “We are working to change that with our Service to America Medals, which are designed to showcase the remarkable work taking place every day on behalf of all of us. When we have a great workforce, we get big problems fixed.”
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- FMA, OTHER MANAGER GROUPS SUPPORT PICK FOR OPM - May 26, 2017
Federal Managers Groups Largely Support Trump OPM Pick
By Erich Wagner, Government Executive
The Trump administration’s nomination of George Nesterczuk to serve as director of the Office of Personnel Management is already making waves among groups that represent federal workers.
While groups representing managers voiced varying levels of support for the announcement Wednesday, a union official was warier of the choice.
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- FMA Washington Report: February 10, 2020
- This report communicates what FMA’s professional staff is doing on behalf of FMA members in Washington, D.C., and provides an update on issues affecting federal managers. Click here to view the February 10, 2020, edition of FMA's Washington Report. In this issue, we discuss legislation that would provide a 3.5 percent pay raise to federal employees in 2021, the lack of a quorum at MSPB, OPM guidance on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, and other issues. We also invite you to weigh in on FMA's 2020 issue briefs and how to get involved at our 82nd national convention and management training seminar in March 2020. As always, we encourage you to visit www.fedmanagers.org on a regular basis for information on these and other matters.
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- WEICHERT LEAVING OMB IN MARCH - February 14, 2020
- Trump's Federal Personnel Point Person to Step DownBy Eric Katz, Government ExecutivePresident Trump’s top point person on agency management and federal personnel policy is stepping down next month after a nearly three-year tenure that saw mixed results for an aggressive agenda to shake up the civil service.
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- Budget Proposes Cutting and Simplifying Federal Employee Leave, and More - February 13, 2020
- Erich Wagner, Government ExecutiveThe Trump administration this week revived a proposal to consolidate most of the categories of paid leave available to federal employees into one pool, and reduce the overall number of leave days available to them.
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- AGENCY REFORMS IN WHITE HOUSE FY21 BUDGET REQUEST - February 11, 2020
- 11 Major Agency Reforms in Trump's 2021 BudgetBy Eric Katz, Government ExecutivePresident Trump proposed many significant reforms to federal agency programs and operations in his fiscal 2021 budget, offering a path to slash $4.4 trillion in spending over a 15-year period.
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- MEMO AUTHORIZES DOD TO OUTLAW COLLECTIVE BARGAINING - February 8, 2020
- White House Memo Could End Unionization at the PentagonBy Erich Wagner, Government ExecutivePresident Trump signed a memo last month that could pave the way for his administration to outlaw collective bargaining by the Defense Department’s 750,000-person civilian workforce.
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- LAWMAKERS PROPOSE MAJOR CUTS TO FEDERAL WORKFORCE - February 7, 2020
- Task Force Proposes Eliminating FERSBy Ralph R. Smith, FedSmithMost readers are probably not aware of the Government, Efficiency, Accountability and Reform Task Force. There is no way of knowing what Congress will do, but this task force has issued a new report entitled 100+ Commonsense Solutions to a Better Government.
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- Federal Employee Retirement Requests Hit Highest Level Since Trump Took Office - February 6, 2020
- Erich Wagner, Government ExecutiveThe number of new federal employee retirement claims in January marked the most in a single month under the Trump administration, according to statistics from the Office of Personnel Management released Wednesday.
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- VA deputy secretary fired after ‘loss of confidence’ - February 4, 2020
- Leo Shane III, Military TimesVeterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie abruptly fired the second-highest department official on Monday, saying he had lost confidence in his ability to perform the job.
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- It’s Becoming Rarer for Federal Agencies and Employees to Settle Over Adverse Actions - February 3, 2020
- And employees who take their cases to a judge are increasingly losing.Eric Katz, Government ExecutiveFederal employees appealing firings, suspensions and other adverse actions taken against them by their agencies are increasingly going before a judge to make their cases, rather than taking a settlement offer from their employer.
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- Things You May Not Know About Annual Pay and Benefits Increases - January 31, 2020
- The differences between COLAs and salary hikes.Tammy Flanagan, Government ExecutiveIt’s the time of year when we clear out the old and start bringing in the new. For federal employees and retirees, that also means leaving your 2019 salary or retirement income behind and replacing them with more generous 2020 amounts.
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- Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Grant Civilian Feds a 3.5% Pay Raise in 2021, and More - January 30, 2020
- A weekly roundup of pay and benefits news.Erich Wagner, Government ExecutiveDemocrats in both chambers of Congress on Tuesday reintroduced a bill that would provide federal civilian employees with a 3.5% across-the-board pay increase next year.
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- TSP Catch-Up Change in Process, Other Updates Pending - January 29, 2020
- FedweekThe TSP has issued proposed rules on its catch-up contributions feature, the first in an expected series of changes in the program this year to follow the expansion of withdrawal options last year.
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- Dear Bureaucrat, We’re trapped under the salary cap! - January 27, 2020
- David S. Reed, Center for Public Administrators, Federal TimesFederal employees at the GS-15 grade aren’t paid for step increases they have earned. This is becoming an increasing problem in the D.C. area as more and more of our top-performing people are ineligible for an increase, year after year. Though I see the problem mentioned, I have not seen any efforts to either remove that statutory cap, or raise the Exec Schedule, thereby giving capped 15's some breathing room. With a staff of high-performing 15's, it is harder and harder to reward them with “the gift that keeps on giving” that is a pay increase.
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- House Committees Demand Documents on EEOC Official Time Proposal - January 24, 2020
- Federal employee unions and Democratic lawmakers have criticized a proposed rule that would strip union employees from the right to official time when aiding a colleague to prepare a discrimination complaint.Erich Wagner, Government ExecutiveThe chairs of two House committees on Thursday demanded a number of documents from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission related to a proposed rule that federal employee groups say will make it harder for workers to pursue discrimination complaints.
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- Significant Changes Coming to TSP and IRAs from SECURE Act - January 22, 2020
- Edward A. Zurndorfer, My Federal RetirementBefore adjourning in late December, Congress enacted a $1.4 trillion year-end spending bill that keeps the federal government running through Sept. 30, 2020. President Trump signed the legislation. Tucked away inside this spending legislation is the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act which includes significant changes to individual retirement arrangements (IRAs) and retirement plans including the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).
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- Recent Paychecks Are Smaller For Some Feds Due To National Finance Center Error - January 17, 2020
- By Nicole Ogrysko, Federal News NetworkRecent paychecks for some federal employees may look smaller — or even larger in other cases — than usual, as the National Finance Center is attempting to resolve a processing error that has incorrectly withheld federal taxes.The error, the National Finance Center told its customers, has led to incorrect tax withholding amounts on paychecks covering pay period 26, which ran from Dec. 22, 2019 through Jan. 4, 2020.
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- Federal Retirement Applications, Processing Both Down in October - November 12, 2019
- By Erich Wagner, Government Executive,The Office of Personnel Management announced last week that the backlog of pending federal retirement claims nearly reached 18,000 last month. Although the number of requests has decreased in recent months, so too has the pace by which the federal government’s HR agency has processed them.According to agency statistics, only 7,044 federal employees filed for retirement in October. That represents about 400 fewer claims than OPM received in September, and a decrease of nearly 2,000 requests compared with the 9,012 that were filed in October 2018.
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- BOTH STAFF CUTS AND BUDGET INCREASES FOR FY 2019 - July 13, 2017
Staff Cuts and Budget Increases Are Both on Tap for 2019
By Eric Katz, Government Executive
The Trump administration has provided federal agencies with the latitude to request up to a 5 percent funding boost in fiscal 2019, saying the White House may accommodate a “limited number” of programmatic increases in its final blueprint.
Generally, Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney said in a memorandum to department and agency heads, agencies should keep their 2019 spending requests in line with what the White House spelled out in the fiscal 2018 budget submission. They should also, however, “identify additional investments in effective programs that further support their mission and fill a clear federal role.”
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- Agencies Could Rehire, Promote Former Employees With New OPM Regulatory Fix - December 24, 2019
- By Nicole Ogrysko, Federal News NetworkThe Office of Personnel Management wants to help agencies rehire former employees who have left government — and offer a non-competitive promotion to a higher grade level to sweeten the deal.In a proposed rule, which is scheduled for publication later this week, OPM will recommend new regulations that will allow agencies to non-competitively reappoint former employees to other positions at a higher grade level than when they left government.
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- How The Government Wants Agencies To Regulate AI - January 14, 2020
- By Andrew Eversden, Federal TimesThe Office of Management and Budget released a draft memorandum Jan. 13 providing guidance to agencies on how they should approach regulation of industry’s artificial intelligence applications.The guidance emphasizes that agencies should consider how any regulatory action would potentially hinder expansion of AI use. The draft memo “calls on agencies, when considering regulations or policies related to AI applications, to promote advancements in technology and innovation."
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- REGISTER FOR FMA'S 82nd NATIONAL CONVENTION!
- MEMO FROM OPM DIRECTOR DALE CABANISS ON 2019 NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (February 3, 2020)
- APPLY FOR AN FMA-FEEA SCHOLARSHIP - Due March 25
- Infrastructure Investments and Modernization Needed at Federal Installations - February 5, 2020
- Hear It from FMA, FedManager.comOn Wednesday, January 29, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and other top legislators in the House unveiled a $760 billion infrastructure package. They appealed to President Trump, who campaigned on a $1 trillion infrastructure plan, to join them in moving this funding forward. As recently as May 2019, the President was expected to propose a $2 trillion infrastructure package, but he urged Congress to first pass the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade deal. He signed that deal into place on January 29, the same day House Democrats offered their infrastructure proposal.
- Read More
- FMA Celebrates FY20 Funding and NDAA in the New Year - January 8, 2020
- Hear It from FMA, FedManager.comA year ago, the federal government was mired in a partial government shutdown, uncertainty, and frustration. And just a month ago, in early December 2019, the Federal Managers Association (FMA) expressed significant concerns about the costs of continuing resolutions on the federal workforce and the impact on day-to-day operations for managers. But a lot can happen in a month, and FMA is both proud and optimistic as we begin a new year.
- Read More
- A Billion Wasted Here, a Billion Wasted There - December 4, 2019
- Hear It from FMA, FedManager.comFormer Senator Everett McKinley Dirksen (R-IL) reportedly once said, “a billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you’re talking real money.” In recent years, untold billions have been squandered each year due to continuing resolutions (CRs).Most recently, on November 21, Congress finalized, and President Trump signed another continuing resolution (CR) into law. The second CR of Fiscal Year 2020, this one funds the federal government through December 20, 2019.
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- Viewpoint: Let’s Keep a Level Playing Field for TSP Investors - November 25, 2019
- Participants in the federal employee retirement savings program deserve the same investment options as other Americans.The Federal Managers Association sits on the Employee Thrift Advisory Council (ETAC) which advises the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB). Clifford Dailing is Chair of ETAC, and Michael Kennedy is Chair of FRTIB.By Michael Kennedy and Clifford Dailing, Government ExecutiveWhen President Ronald Reagan signed the Federal Employees’ Retirement System Act in 1986 flanked by a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers, the intent was clear: to provide federal employees a defined contribution retirement plan like private employers’ 401(k) plans. The Thrift Savings Plan has grown to hold the retirement savings of more than 5.5 million participants from federal and military service, with total assets of $600 billion.
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- FMA Seeks to Restore Leadership and Resources At The Merit Systems Protection Board - August 7, 2019
- Hear It from FMA, FEDmanager.comThe Senate has a lot of business to tend to when it returns from its State Work Period on September 9. Most notably, it will have barely three weeks before the end of the current fiscal year to pass appropriations to fund the federal government for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) and prevent another government shutdown. Among the other important priorities on the Senate’s plate is finally confirming nominees for the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), the primary appeals board for federal employees.
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- FMA’s Take On The Agency Reorganization Proposals - July 3, 2018
- The Federal Managers Association, FEDmanager.comIt has been two weeks (as of writing) since the administration formally unveiled its long-awaited agency reorganization plan, called “Delivering Government Solutions in the 21st Century.” We at FMA have heard from many of our members and continue to analyze the merits for reform.
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- FMA HONORS SENATOR DANIEL AKAKA - A TRUE FRIEND TO FEDS - April 12, 2018
- With the passing of Senator Akaka, the Federal Managers Association pays tribute to his life and workHaving worked with Senator Akaka for many years on innumerable issues of importance to federal employees and good government, we came to know him as a reliable leader. He led by example, never disrespectful of others, and always endeavoring to make America the best it could be. We were saddened when he left the U.S. Senate, and now feel we have lost a friend.
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- THE IMPORTANT BUT LESS SEXY SIDE OF INVESTING IN OUR MILITARY - December 19, 2017
The Federal Managers Association, FedManager.com
The Federal Managers Association (FMA) is featured in the latest edition of FedManager.com. Hear it from FMA is a regularly scheduled article that runs once a month in the publication. In this article, we write about investing in modernizing infrastructure and facilities across the government. It is sexy and splashy when headlines announce next generation of sophisticated aircraft and advanced ships, but we need to make the necessary investments to keep them viable.
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- Good Intentions Start a Slippery Slide to the Bottom - June 14, 2017
Todd Wells, Executive Director
Federal Managers AssociationThe members of the Federal Managers Association (FMA) remain steadfast in their desire to work with Congress and the President to identify more effective and cost-efficient ways to ensure our veterans receive the treatment they deserve. However, we are extremely concerned by the erosion of due process for federal employees included in the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act.
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- FMA DISAPPOINTED BY PRESIDENT'S FY21 BUDGET REQUEST - February 10, 2020
- Alexandria, VA – On Monday, February 10, President Donald Trump formally released the administration's fiscal year 2021 (FY21) budget request. As in recent years, it proposes enormous cuts to federal employee retirement benefits by raising employee contributions one percent a year for six years. It also eliminates cost of living adjustments (COLAs) for all FERS employees, cuts CSRS COLAs, eliminates the FERS annuity supplement, and proposes to base annuity calculations on employees’ “High-5” salary years, instead of the High-3. Additionally, it seeks to modify the Thrift Savings Plan G-Fund. Federal Managers Association (FMA) National President Renee Johnson made the following comments on the administration’s budget plans.
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- FMA APPLAUDS HOUSE PASSAGE OF FY2020 NDAA - December 12, 2019
- Final Bill includes many FMA Legislative PrioritiesAlexandria, VA – On Wednesday, December 11, the House of Representatives agreed to the conference report on the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by a vote of 377-48. The bill authorizes $738 billion in defense spending and includes many provisions affecting the federal workforce. Federal Managers Association (FMA) National President Renee Johnson made the following comments on House passage of the conference report:
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- FMA STATEMENT ON SENATE PASSAGE OF CONTINUING RESOLUTION - November 21, 2019
- Alexandria, VA - On November 21, the U.S. Senate approved a Continuing Resolution (CR) providing government funding through December 20, 2019. The final vote was 74-20. Federal Managers Association (FMA) National President Renee Johnson made the following statement in response to its passage:"At the risk of sounding like a broken record, FMA is again relieved that Congress averted yet another government shutdown. As I said in September, a CR is preferable to a lapse in funding. However, we remain deeply dismayed about the ongoing over-reliance on short-term CRs to fund the government.
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