U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) expressed satisfaction with the scope of legislation affecting federal employees passed by the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs in the 106th Congress. Senator Akaka is the ranking Democrat on the Subcommittee on International Security, Proliferation, and Federal Services, with authorizing authority for the federal civil service and postal issues.
Two bills sponsored by Senator Akaka were passed by Congress in October and were signed into law by the President, as was another measure that includes an Akaka amendment that saved the bill from a likely veto. One bill will enable the federal government to enroll an employee or child in the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program when a state court orders the employee to provide health coverage. Senator Akaka and Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) sponsored the Senate companion to H.R. 2842, which was signed by the President on October 31, 2000. The second bill, S. 2686, will stabilize mailing rates and ensure predictability for nonprofit mailers, such as churches, the Boy and Girl Scouts, and colleges. The House passed the Akaka-Cochran bill days after the Senate took action, and the measure was signed into law by the President, Public Law 106-384. A third bill, H.R. 208, will allow newly hired federal employees to participate in the Thrift Savings Plan and goes a long way to breaking down the barriers to allow pension portability and consolidation of retirement assets for federal employees. It includes an Akaka amendment that served as an offset for lost tax revenues incurred by federal employees immediately participating in the government's thrift savings plan. The bill was signed by the President on October 27, 2000, P.L. 106-361. Another Akaka amendment to the bill will conform the tax treatment of the federal plan to those of 401k plans.
Akaka introduced S. 3190, the Whistleblower Protection Act Amendments of 2000, on October 12, 2000. The measure is designed to counteract decisions by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit which have eroded statutory protections provided to federal whistleblowers. Akaka said the bill will also strengthen protections under the Whistleblower Protection Act and ensure that federal whistleblowers are protected from retaliatory measures. The bill is the starting point for dialogue to guarantee that any disclosures are within the boundaries of the statutory language and he will seek hearings in the next Congress.
Senator Akaka is also the sponsor of S. 2703, the Postmasters Fairness and Rights Act, which enjoys bipartisan support of 27 Senate cosponsors. The Akaka bill, like the House companion bill that has 235 cosponsors, would create a fair process to allow Postmasters to take an active and constructive role in managing their post offices and discussing compensation issues. Akaka continues to work with the U.S. Postal Service to honor Hawaii's legendary surfer and Olympic gold medal winner Duke Kahanamoku with a commemorative postage stamp in 2002.
Senator Akaka determinedly fought throughout this Congress for issues affecting federal employees. He tackled issues that had become mired in politics in previous Congresses. He joined with a small bipartisan bicameral group that championed a compromise to pass legislation to provide long-term care insurance for the federal family, including federal employees, postal workers, members of the uniformed services, reservists, retirees, and selected family members. The employee-paid insurance should be available in two years. Also included in the long-term care bill (P.L. 106-265) is an Akaka-Cochran amendment that provides financial relief to federal employees who were erroneously enrolled in the wrong retirement system.
Senator Akaka successfully fought for passage of returning federal employees' retirement contribution rates to the 1998 levels. This was included in the FY2001 Transportation Appropriations Act, P.L. 106-346. He is an original cosponsor of the legislation that was included in the Transportation bill and wrote the Senate Budget Committee in his capacity as the Ranking Democrat on the Federal Services Subcommittee to eliminate the higher contribution rates in the fiscal year 2001 Senate Budget Resolution.
The FY2001 Department of Defense Authorization Act includes an Akaka/Durbin/Voinovich amendment to implement a student loan repayment program as an incentive for federal employee recruitment and retention. This measure was signed into law on October 30, 2000. Under the amendment, federal agencies will have the authority to provide financial assistance to employees paying off student loans. Payments will be made directly to the holder of the loan.
Senator Akaka led the Senate to enact the Organ Donor Leave Act, P.L. 106-56, which provides federal employees with additional sick leave in order to serve as a living organ donor. The federal organ donor act is a model for the private sector and state and local governments. The Senator is critical of the most recent increase in health insurance premiums for federal employees and retirees and contends that the most recent increase is unjustified. He is working with the Office of Personnel Management to examine ways to stop the steady rise in premiums and ensure that OPM requires federal health insurance carriers to protect patient safety.
Senator Akaka is a steadfast defender of our nation's federal employees and is willing to fight for a fair and equitable employment process based on the federal civil service merit system. He will work in the 107th Congress to explore new opportunities to strengthen the federal workforce and seek solutions on the serious problems of recruitment, retention, and training.
