House Approves Defense Authorization Bill Repealing NSPS; Senate Nearing a Vote

(National Federation of Federal Employees)

Thursday, the House of Representatives passed the conference report on the FY 2010 Defense Authorization Act, which includes provisions to repeal the National Security Personnel System (NSPS) and convert the over 200,000 employees enrolled under the program back into existing pay systems.

The legislation also contains provisions giving retiring employees enrolled in the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) credit for their unused sick leave and extends locality pay to workers stationed outside of the mainland United States.

Yesterday, NFFE National President William R. Dougan penned letters to both the House and Senate calling for swift passage of the bill.

“Our union believes that these provisions and the repealing of NSPS are central to improving the lives of countless federal employees and to enhancing the performance of DoD,” wrote Dougan, urging Senate lawmakers to pass the key legislation. “As such, we fully endorse the conference report and urge you to do the same when the report comes to the Senate floor.”

The bill, arguably the most important for federal employees in years, will now be subject to approval by the Senate. Sources on Capitol Hill suggest that the Senate will consider the legislation sometime early next week.  While Senate passage is likely, there is a possibility of provisions unrelated to the federal workforce sinking the bill in the Senate.

“We are very close to passing the most important piece of legislation for federal workers in the last decade,” said NFFE Legislative Director Randy Erwin.  “NFFE members should be calling their Senators and asking them to support the Defense Authorization conference report.”

You can call your Senators by dialing the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.