Sherrod Brown

In today’s Federal Newscast, a version of the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act is introduced into the Senate.

Two new bills that would keep federal employee insurance programs in tact during future government shutdowns has bipartisan, bicameral support.

At least five bills have been reintroduced in the 116th Congress by incumbent lawmakers. And as the fog of last month’s partial government shutdown clears, it’s possible more bills have or will resurface.

In today’s Federal Newscast, the Congressional Budget Office takes a look at just how much it will cost for the Defense Department to go through with all of its plans for the near future.

New Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie addressed Congress for the first time since his confirmation about 60 days ago.

Senate Veterans Affairs Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and three other senators are asking the VA inspector general to review the department’s implementation of the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act.

Public-private leasing and compiling a comprehensive database of government facilities are part of a handful of bills aimed at managing federal real property.

A group of 26 Democratic senators wrote last week to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta urging the Pentagon to lift an “arbitrary” cap on DoD’s civilian workforce, saying contractors hadn’t been similarly affected by budget constraints. But the Professional Services Council, an industry group which represents many defense contractors, rebuts the charge that contractors haven’t also felt the effects of the current fiscal climate.

Democratic Senators, led by Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), say Panetta’s plan breaks the law.