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| FERS |
Article Title: NSA’s Keith Alexander questions Washington Post report
Snippet of Article: "... the NSA secretly mined the connection between Google’s and Yahoo’s data hubs. The project, code named MUSCULAR and targeting data centers located around the world..."
Article Title: Young workers souring on federal careers
Snippet of Article: "...No one has compiled statistics on the number of federal workers quitting their jobs or looking to do so. But public employees say the chorus of dissatisfaction among young people is reaching record decibels...."
Snippet of Article: "...Most federal employees who filed for unemployment compensation while they were furloughed are being asked to pay that money back..."
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| Federal Furlough News |
Article Title: Many Unpaid Federal Workers Applying For Unemployment
Snippet of Article: "...Now four days into the shutdown, many unpaid federal workers are applying for unemployment...."
Article Title: Government shuts down after Congress fails to pass spending bill
Snippet of Article: "...WASHINGTON —The federal government shut down for the first time in nearly two decades following more than a week of legislative jockeying ..."
Article Title: Government shutdown: Get up to speed in 20 questions
Snippet of Article: "...(CNN) -- Let's start with the obvious question: Will the government shut down this week? Most likely. Republicans and Democrats can agree on that...."
Article Title: House sets vote on funding bill; agencies brace for shutdown
Snippet of Article: "...Nationwide, 400,000 civilian Defense Department workers would be furloughed. Maryland and Virginia would be hurt more by a shutdown..."
Article Title: OPM Announces 2014 Federal Employees Health Benefits Program Premium Rates
Washington, DC – The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has announced the average premium rate for the 8.2 million people covered by the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program will increase by 3.7 percent in 2014. That percentage is only slightly higher than last year’s increase of 3.4 percent and less than the national average increase in 2013. The average premium increase for the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) will be under one percent for dental coverage and average premiums for vision benefits will decrease by 1.3 percent.
“For the third year in a row, OPM has kept the average premium increases for the FEHB Program under 4 percent, continuing our commitment to provide federal employees, annuitants and their families with the best possible coverage options,” said OPM Acting Director Elaine Kaplan. “The FEHB Program delivers competitive rates and benefits through an efficiently run program to attract and retain top-talent in the federal service.”
There are no significant benefit changes for 2014 and more plan choices: 256, up by over 10 percent from 2013.
On average, FEHB Program enrollees with self only coverage will pay $3.28 more per bi-weekly pay period, and enrollees with family coverage will pay $7.90 more. Premiums for Health Maintenance Organizations will increase an average of 6.5 percent, while Fee-for-Service plans will see an average increase of 3.1 percent.
The 2013 Open Season for health, dental, and vision insurance and flexible spending accounts will be held from November 11, 2013 to December 9, 2013. The annual Open Season gives federal employees and retirees the opportunity to review their health plan choices and make changes for the following year. It also allows eligible employees to enroll for coverage. FEHB Program enrollees should review the benefits and premiums for their health plan choices and decide what coverage will best fit their healthcare needs in the coming year.
Established in 1960, the FEHB Program is the largest employer-sponsored health benefits program in the United States. The government provides a weighted average contribution of 72 percent of premiums with a cap of no more than 75 percent of total premium cost. Approximately 90 percent of all federal employees participate in the Program.
The OPM website provides a detailed breakdown on the FEHB Program premium rates and the FEDVIP rates.
Article Title: Most government employees would work through shutdown
Snippet of Article: "...An estimated 59% of non-defense federal employees would be exempt from the shutdown and would go to work as usual, according to a USA TODAY..."
Article Title: FDA issues final guidance on mobile medical apps
Snippet of Article: "...The FDA is focusing its oversight on mobile medical apps that:
* are intended to be used as an accessory to a regulated medical device – for example, an application that allows a health care professional to make a specific diagnosis by viewing a medical image from a picture archiving and communication system (PACS) on a smartphone or a mobile tablet; or
* transform a mobile platform into a regulated medical device – for example, an application that turns a smartphone into an electrocardiography (ECG) machine to detect abnormal heart rhythms or determine if a patient is experiencing a heart attack...."
Article Title: Federal agency charged with security checks has been urged to improve standards
Snippet of Article: "...Since 2007, 21 investigators and record checkers who work on security clearances for OPM have been convicted of or pleaded guilty to falsifying their reports..."
Article Title: Congress to take federal budget conversation behind closed doors
Snippet of Article: "...This time around, the budget will include the health law because there are Republicans who are trying to take the money away from it. ..."
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| 9/11 Bikers in D.C. |
Article Title: Government employee groups push back on Senate bill
Snippet of Article: "...“The health insurance provisions,” the groups wrote in a letter dated Friday, “will undermine the successful, longstanding Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) and increase costs for millions of federal employees, retirees and their families.”..."
Article Title: Letter from the President -- Regarding Alternate Pay for Civilian Federal Employees
Snippet of Article: "...I am transmitting an alternative plan for pay increases for civilian Federal employees covered by the General Schedule (GS) and certain other pay systems for 2014. ..."
Article Title: Here's A Fantastic Data Visualization Of The US Intelligence Community's 'Black Budget' Spending
Snippet of Article: "...Grandjean noted the five agencies that receive the most funding: CIA (28%), NSA (21%), National Reconnaissance Office (20%), National Geospatial-Intelligence Program (9%), and General Defense Intelligence Program (8%).
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/data-visualization-of-the-black-budget-2013-9#ixzz2dqVlfp7D
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Article Title: What you should know about RIFs
Snippet of Article: "...As sequestration tightens its hold and Congress carves away at agency budgets, losing your job is a distinct possibility. To be prepared, you need to have a clear understanding of the rules governing reductions-in-force (RIFs)...."
Article Title: Federal workers to be surveyed about benefits
Snippet of Article: "...a survey that in the past has shown that they most highly value their retirement and health insurance programs and in general think those programs meet their needs and provide good value...."
Article Title: USPS Plan to Pull Out of Fed Health Benefits Could Cost Postal Workers
Snippet of Article: "...While most non-postal FEHB enrollees would likely not be affected by USPS’ withdrawal from the program, about 29,000 federal employees would have to select a new health plan, according to GAO, as some plans that primarily offer services to USPS workers would drop out of FEHB. ..."
Article Title: Senate panel backs 1 percent raise for federal employees
Snippet of Article: "... the Committee fully funds the 1 percent pay raise for civilian employees as requested,” the report says...."
Article Title: No Civilian Pensions for Military Retirees?
Snippet of Article: "... Defense Department is mulling numerous reductions that will affect civilian employees, including doing away with civilian employee pensions for military retirees who..."
Article Title: Postal Service Confirms Photographing All U.S. Mail
Snippet of Article: "...The information is then sent to the law enforcement agency that asked for it. Tens of thousands of pieces of mail each year undergo this scrutiny, and a number of law enforcement agencies have used it, like the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Department of Health and Human Services. Law enforcement officials called the mail covers an important investigative tool. ..."
Article Title: Travel Alert from U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
August 02, 2013
The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens to the continued potential for terrorist attacks, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, and possibly occurring in or emanating from the Arabian Peninsula. Current information suggests that al-Qa’ida and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks both in the region and beyond, and that they may focus efforts to conduct attacks in the period between now and the end of August. This Travel Alert expires on August 31, 2013.
Terrorists may elect to use a variety of means and weapons and target both official and private interests. U.S. citizens are reminded of the potential for terrorists to attack public transportation systems and other tourist infrastructure. Terrorists have targeted and attacked subway and rail systems, as well as aviation and maritime services. U.S. citizens should take every precaution to be aware of their surroundings and to adopt appropriate safety measures to protect themselves when traveling.
We continue to work closely with other nations on the threat from international terrorism, including from al-Qa'ida. Information is routinely shared between the U.S. and our key partners in order to disrupt terrorist plotting, identify and take action against potential operatives, and strengthen our defenses against potential threats.
We recommend U.S. citizens register their travel plans with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy through the State Department's travel registration website. We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens Traveling abroad enroll in the Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the U.S. embassy or nearest U.S. consulate to contact you in an emergency. If you don't have Internet access, enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State's Internet website attravel.state.gov where the Worldwide Caution, Country Specific Information, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found. Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook as well. Download our free Smart Traveler app, available through iTunes or Google Play, to have travel information at your fingertips.
In addition to information on the internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or, from other countries, on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Monday through Friday, Eastern Time (except U.S. federal holidays).
Article Title: Panel to vote on bills that target federal workers
Snippet of Article: "...“The real intent of this legislation is to vilify federal employees and make us appear untrustworthy,” said J. David Cox Sr., president of the American Federation of Government Employees...."
Article Title: Traffic clogging Redstone Arsenal during furloughs
Snippet of Article: "...HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) - The military says traffic congestion is getting worse at Huntsville's Redstone Arsenal because of personnel reductions linked to federal budget cuts...."
Article Title: Redstone unions try new push to undo furloughs
Snippet of Article: "...As of this week, some 15,000 civilian employees at Redstone are being furloughed, required to take one unpaid day off a week for the next 11 weeks, essentially taking a 20% pay cut for the period...."
Article Title: Protestors occupy private airport mail facility; five arrested
Snippet of Article: "... “postal protectors”, were arrested July 3 in an occupation of a private air cargo facility slated to handle and process US mail. “Postal mail handlers and mail processing clerks are losing their jobs to profiteering, private corporations,” declared Jamie Partridge, a retired letter..."
