#thefourthbranch

Legislation News: H.R.5709 - Federal Records Modernization Act of 2016 H.R.5709 - Federal Records Modernization Act of 2016 was introduced in the House on July 11th, 2016 by Representative Mark Meadows(R-NC). The purpose of this bill is, "To improve Federal employee compliance with Federal and Presidential recordkeeping requirements, and for other purposes." Bill Summary: "This bill creates a process for the suspension and removal of federal employees if an agency inspector general determines that they have: (1) willfully and unlawfully concealed, removed, mutilated, obliterated, falsified, or destroyed any record, proceeding, or other thing in their custody; or (2) violated prohibitions against creating or sending records using nonofficial electronic messaging accounts. The President, Vice President, or their staff or advisers may not create or send a presidential or vice presidential record using nonofficial electronic messaging accounts unless they: (1) include their official electronic messaging account as a recipient in the original creation or transmission of the electronic message (currently, the official account must only be copied on the message); (2) identify all recipients in such message; and (3) print a copy of the message, including a complete list of recipients, to submit for archival storage by the Executive Office of the President (currently, the message must only be forwarded electronically to their official electronic messaging account). Other executive agency officials or employees may not create or send records using nonofficial electronic messaging accounts unless they follow similar requirements to include their official account as a recipient, identify all recipients, and print a copy to submit for their agencies' archival storage. The bill modifies the categories of record removal or destruction that obligate federal agency heads to notify the Archivist of the United States and initiate actions to recover removed records through the Department of Justice. Agencies must also: (1) notify the Archivist of concealments or falsifications of agency items, and (2) publish a general description of records at risk or that have been lost. Agencies must designate senior records management officials to ensure compliance with records management requirements and to immediately notify the agency whenever an actual or threatened destruction, removal, concealment, or falsification of records comes to their attention. Each agency's records management program must provide for the electronic capture and automatic retention of messaging accounts containing electronic records that should be: (1) preserved as permanent federal records, and (2) accessible for retrieval through electronic searches. The bill requires the Federal Register to be: (1) published (e.g., by electronic means), rather than printed; and (2) available for sale or distribution to the public in published form. It revises requirements for the filing of documents with the Office of the Federal Register and the publication of the Code of Federal Regulations." This bill was referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on July 11th, 2016 and was reported and placed on the Union Calendar on September 19th, 2016. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that, "agencies, GAO, and IGs governmentwide would incur additional administrative costs under H.R. 5709 totaling less than $40,000 annually per agency, primarily to meet the bill’s reporting requirements. In total, CBO estimates those activities would cost about $5 million over the 2017-2021 period; most such spending would be subject to appropriation. CBO expects that enacting the bill would not significantly affect costs to print the Federal Register and the CFR since most spending related to those documents stems from preparing content, not printing and duplication." You can view the full bill text here:https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr5709/BILLS-114hr5709rh.xml What are your thoughts on this bill?

Legislation News: H.R.5859 - Community Counterterrorism Preparedness Act H.R.5859 - Community Counterterrorism Preparedness Act was introduced in the House by Representative Michael McCaul(R-TX) on July 14th, 2016. The purpose of this bill is, "To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish the major metropolitan area counterterrorism training and exercise grant program, and for other purposes." Bill Summary: "(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to carry out a grant program for emergency response providers to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the most likely terrorist attack scenarios, including active shooters against major metropolitan areas. DHS shall provide to eligible applicants: (1) unclassified information on such scenarios, and (2) information on training and exercises best practices. Recipients may use grants to conduct training and exercises consistent with preventing, preparing for, and responding to such scenarios. Emergency response providers in jurisdictions that are currently receiving, or that previously received, funding under the Urban Area Security Initiative may apply for such a grant. Eligible applicants receiving funding under the program may include in funded activities neighboring jurisdictions that would be likely to provide mutual aid in response to terrorist attack scenarios. Grant applications must include a description of how the applicant will work with community partners such as schools, places of worship, and businesses when conducting permitted activities. DHS shall make funds provided under this bill available for use by a grant recipient for a period of at least 24 months." This bill was referred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications of the House Committee on Homeland Security on August 3rd, 2016. It was reported and placed on the Union Calendar on September 19th, 2016. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that, " implementing this bill would cost $141 million over the 2017-2021 period, assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts." You can view the full bill text here: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr5859/BILLS-114hr5859rh.xml What are your thoughts on this bill?

What are your thoughts on this bill?

Legislation News: H.R.5620 - VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act of 2016 H.R.5620 - VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act of 2016 was introduced in the House on July 5th, 2016 by Representative Jeff Miller(R-FL). The purpose of this bill is, "To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the removal or demotion of employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs based on performance or misconduct, and for other purposes." Bill Summary: "This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to remove or demote a VA employee based on performance or misconduct and provides that specified federal employee performance appraisal provisions shall not apply to such removals or demotions. The VA may remove such individual from the civil service or demote the individual through a reduction in grade or annual pay rate. A demoted individual shall not be placed on administrative leave or any other category of paid leave during the appeals period and can receive pay only if he or she reports for duty. An expedited appeals process is established under which: (1) an employee shall have the right to an appeal before the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) within seven days of removal or demotion, (2) the MSPB shall issue a decision within 60 days of the appeal or the removal or demotion becomes final, (3) an MSPB decision and any final removal or demotion may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals, and (4) the MSPB may not stay any removal or demotion. The VA may not remove or demote an employee: (1) without the approval of the Special Counsel if the individual seeks corrective action from the Office of Special Counsel based on an alleged prohibited personnel practice, and (2) until a final decision in the case of a whistle blower complaint. The VA shall reduce the federal annuity of an individual removed from the VA Senior Executive Service (SES) who is convicted of a felony that influenced his or her performance while employed in such position. The VA may reduce the federal annuity of an individual who was convicted of such a felony and was subject to removal or transfer from the SES but who left theVA before final action was taken. The VA may recoup an award, a bonus, or relocation expenses paid to a VA employee under specified circumstances. The VA may suspend, reprimand or admonish an SES employee for misconduct or performance that does not merit removal. The VA must notify an individual five days before taking such proposed action. Appeals may be made to the Senior Executive Disciplinary Appeals Board (as provided for by this bill) and may not be appealed to the MSPB. The bill establishes an additional whistle blower complaint process, which shall include suspension and removal actions against supervisory employees who commit prohibited personnel actions against a whistle blower. The bill amends the disability benefits appeals process. The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 is prohibit payment of an award or bonus to any VA SES employee during each of FY 2017-FY2021." This bill was passed in the House in a vote of 310-116 on September 14th, 2016. It was received in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs on September 15th, 2016. You can view the full bill text here:https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr5620/BILLS-114hr5620eh.xml What are your thoughts on H.R. 5620?

What are your thoughts on this bill?

What are your thoughts on this bill?

Legislation News: H.R.5011 - To designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 300 Fannin Street in Shreveport, Louisiana, as the "Tom Stagg Federal Building and United States Courthouse". H.R. 5011 was introduced in the House by Representative John Fleming(R-LA) on April 20th, 2016. The purpose of this bill is, "To designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 300 Fannin Street in Shreveport, Louisiana, as the "Tom Stagg Federal Building and United States Courthouse"." Bill Summary: "This bill designates the federal building and U.S. courthouse located at 300 Fannin Street in Shreveport, Louisiana, as the "Tom Stagg Federal Building and United States Courthouse." This bill was referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on April 21st, 2016. It was ordered to be reported to the full House on September 14th, 2016. You can view the full bill text here:https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr5011/BILLS-114hr5011ih.xml What are your thoughts on this bill?