Stephen Lynch

• House panel debates merits of Senior Exec Service, comes down hard on VA

  In examining the viability of the Senior Executive Service, House members called out the Veterans Affairs' compensation program, with a pledge to introduce another piece of legislation to take back bonuses. The Senior Executives Association relayed concerns that talent is fleeing senior executive positions.

  Congress

  July 11, 2014
• Is low employee morale ‘compromising’ the federal government?

  In the wake of across-the-board budget cuts, furloughs and slim -- or no -- annual pay raises, the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee says he's concerned about a nose-dive in federal-employee morale. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) is now asking the Government Accountability Office to look into recent trends in feds' job satisfaction. The lawmakers are concerned declining satisfaction "may be compromising the federal government's ability to serve the American people."

  Congress

  March 28, 2014
• What can USPS learn from TRICARE in funding retiree health care costs?

  As lawmakers consider efforts to shore up the Postal Service's financial footing, there's still widespread disagreement over whether the current requirement for the agency prefunding requirement is fiscally responsible, as Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Texas) argued during a House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee hearing Thursday, or an "onerous mandate" only required of the Postal Service, as Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) contended.

  Congress

  March 14, 2014
• Congress eyeing legislative fix for security clearances

  President Barack Obama signed the OPM IG Act into law this week. The law provides the agency's top watchdog with an additional source of funding to conduct audits and investigations of the security-clearance process.

  Congress

  February 13, 2014
• House votes to beef up OPM inspector general funding

  The House gave a boost to the Office of Personnel Management inspector general's office Tuesday, voting to provide the agency's auditors with access to new funding to conduct investigations. In a unanimous vote, the House approved the bipartisan OPM IG Act, introduced by Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Texas) and co-sponsored by Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass). The Senate approved a nearly identical measure, introduced by Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), in October.

  Congress

  January 14, 2014
• Will budget committee target feds’ retirement contributions?

  Even as mystery surrounds the work of the House-Senate budget committee negotiating over fiscal 2014 funding levels and possible alternatives to devastating across-the-board budget cuts known as sequestration, there's consensus emerging about some of the potential bargaining chips the committee is likely to use. That includes requiring federal workers to contribute more of their salaries toward their pensions.

  Budget

  December 02, 2013
• House committee moves forward on postal reform

  The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee approved major postal reform legislation Wednesday. The 22-17 party-line vote moves the 2013 Postal Reform Act, introduced by Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), to the full House for consideration.

  Congress

  July 24, 2013
• New bill could curtail FEHBP prescription drug costs

  The FEHBP Drug Integrity, Transparency and Cost Savings Act would give OPM more oversight of contracts and pricing methods. Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) said the bill would save the government billions.

  Congress

  March 22, 2013
• Postal Service reform finds new life on Capitol Hill

  Real reform for the U.S. Postal Service may be gaining some steam in Congress. Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Texas), the new chairman of the House subcommittee that oversees the Postal Service, tells Federal News Radio, House leadership sees room for compromise with Democrats when it comes to figuring out ways to get USPS back in the black. Farenthold supports the Postal Service's plan to eliminate Saturday mail delivery.

  Congress

  March 19, 2013
• OPM to hire CTO to handle USAJobs, retirement system

  The Office of Personnel Management faces a House subcommittee today to answer questions about its handling of the USAJobs relaunch.

  Congress

  November 15, 2011
• House lawmakers to square off over plans to fix USPS

  A House subcommittee will markup legislation Wednesday to address the Postal Service\'s financial problems. President Obama unveiled his reform proposal earlier this week. Postal Service officials say, if enacted, it would give them the breathing room they need to make major network changes.

  Budget

  September 20, 2011
• Lawmakers at odds over ‘official time’

  House Oversight and Government Reform members disagreed on the whether federal employees should perform union activities during the work day. A bill banning official time has been introduced which AFGE says would all but end collective bargaining rights.

  Workforce

  June 02, 2011
• Congress: Rightsizing debate should include feds and contractors

  Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle agree that federal contractors need to be a major part of the discussion on rightsizing the federal workforce. But, they have not yet come to terms with whether the debate is about just raw numbers or having the right number of employees doing an amount of work they can handle.

  Acquisition

  May 26, 2011
• Bill would cut prescription drug costs for feds

  Congressman Stephen Lynch\'s bill would require openness of contracts and stricter guidelines when it comes to agreements with Pharmacy Benefit Managers.

  Congress

  March 17, 2011