Tuesday Morning Federal Newsstand

Written by Ruben Gomez
Edited by Suzanne Kubota

This morning’s federal news as heard on WFED:

The full house this week is expected to take up House bill 626 – the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act. The measure would give federal and congressional workers four weeks of paid family leave. They could use it when they have or adopt a child. Similar measures have been approved twice by the House, only to stall in the Senate. Supporters say it’s a long overdue change needed to keep good federal workers. Critics say its wrong to enact a new federal work benefit in the midst of a recession. A companion bill is pending in the Senate.

The Navy will cancel a $13-billion dollar contract to build a set of new presidential helicopters. The move follows a stop-work order about two weeks ago. The contract was awarded to Lockheed Martin in 2005. The decision is in line with a series of cancellations designed to save money in the 2010 budget.

You made money in May if you participate in the Thrift Savings Plan. That month capped three straight months of gain for TSP funds. The I fund showed the most gain — about 13 percent. The G and F funds showed the smallest forward movement. Each rose less than 1-percent. But they are the only ones that have kept positive territory since the markets started falling last year.

The military is tweeting from Afghanistan. The move is part of a new public information campaign to fight what the Defense Department calls a Taliban propaganda war. They’ve also set up Facebook and YouTube pages. And they’re encouraging troops to post stories and photos that portray daily life in Afghanistan.

NASA has set up a panel to review its human spaceflight programs. The group includes 10 people, and is led by Norman Augustine. He’s the retired chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin. And he worked for both the Bush and Clinton Administrations on their Science and Technology staffs. The panel’s first meeting is scheduled for June 17 in Washington.

Smooth sailing on the borders on the first day of new ID requirements for Americans returning by land from Canada and Mexico. No unusual hiccoughs or delays were reported, and traffic flowed smoothly. Until yesterday, US citizens could re-enter the country with various types of ID. Now, you need a passport, passport card, enhanced drivers license or some other form of secure id approved by the Department of Homeland Security.

Other Stories We’re Following

Homeland Security reviews contractor-federal employee balance (GovExec)

Navy investigating missing money after pirate rescue (CNN)

CIA names fallen officer 6 years after death (CNN)

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