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NARFE Applauds Inclusion of Federal Workforce Provisions in the FY20 National Defense Authorization Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 10, 2019

Alexandria, Va. – With the conference agreement on the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) including provisions to several federal workforce-related policies, NARFE National President Ken Thomas issued the following statements:

Paid Parental Leave
“Paid parental leave policies have long produced positive social, medical and economic outcomes for employees and employers worldwide. After years of advocating for this best-practice, NARFE is overjoyed that federal employees will soon be able to better care for their families and the federal government will have a powerful human resource management tool to help attract and retain a top-performing workforce.”

Elimination of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
“OPM is not without challenges, and a serious effort must be undertaken to improve its operations to better serve our nation and the more than 5 million federal employees and retirees who rely on it services. NARFE appreciates the committees’ decision to include language blocking the administration from eliminating OPM as this action echoes the overwhelming bipartisan concern in Congress that the administration has failed to make a compelling case for restructuring OPM.”

Rehiring Federal Retirees Waiver Authority
“Since its inclusion in the fiscal year 2010 NDAA, the authority providing agency leaders with the option to rehire federal retirees without an offset to their annuities has been proven to be a valuable tool in the government’s efforts to mitigate the loss of federal employees while filling critical gaps and training the next generation of federal managers. It’s a true win-win for retirees, the government and the American people, and we thank the committees for continuing to see the benefit and value of this measure.”

In conclusion Thomas noted, “I’m proud of NARFE’s hard work to ensure these provisions were included in the FY20 NDAA. I commend members of the conference committee and Armed Services Committees for their bipartisan efforts to allow the federal government to serve the American people and urge members of Congress to swiftly pass this legislation and send it to the president for his signature.”

NARFE Director of Legislative and Political Affairs John Hatton will speak on these provisions and NARFE’s role in securing them in the final conference report at a press conference hosted by House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today at 3 p.m. in the Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2212, that will also feature Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and other labor leaders.

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As the only organization solely dedicated to the general welfare of all federal workers and retirees, NARFE delivers valuable guidance, timely resources and powerful advocacy. For nearly a century, NARFE has been a trusted source of knowledge for the federal community, Capitol Hill, the executive branch and the media.