Defund of NSPS Retained in Defense Appropriations Conference Report

Washington, DC – The recently released 2007 Defense Appropriations Bill Conference Report has retained a provision to defund sections of the National Security Personnel System (NSPS) deemed illegal by Judge Emmett G. Sullivan in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.  Similar language was adopted by a voice vote in the US House of Representatives on June 21st.  The House amendment was cosponsored by Jay Inslee (D-WA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Walter Jones (R-NC). 

Sec. 8111 of the conference report reads: None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act  may be obligated or expended to implement any provision of the National Security Personnel System under chapter 99 of title 5, United States Code, that deviates from any provision relating to labor-management relations, adverse actions, or appeals under chapter 71, 75 or 77 of title 5, United States Code, or from any regulations prescribed under such chapter 71, 75, or 77; Provided, That the limitation in this section shall cease to apply to the extent that the decision of the court in AFGE v. Rumsfeld (422 F. Supp. 2d 16 (D.D. C. 2006)) is reversed on appeal.

“This is a significant victory in the fight to maintain workers’ rights in the federal government,” said Richard N. Brown, National President of the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE).

“Defense workers are not fooled by the false promises offered by NSPS,” said Brown.  “This victory demonstrates that the workers have finally communicated their message clearly to Congress.”

The Defense Appropriations Bill Conference Report is expected to pass before Congress goes into recess. 

“Although this does not resolve the NSPS issue entirely, this is a big step in the right direction,” said Brown.

Link to Conference Report: http://www.rules.house.gov/109_2nd/text/hr6166/1092nd_cr_hr5631.pdf (Sec. 8111 is on page 12)