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Salaries of Federal Officials: A Fact Sheet
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Salaries of Federal Officials: A Fact Sheet
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Salaries of Federal Officials: A Fact Sheet
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Salaries of Federal Officials: A Fact Sheet
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Salaries of Federal Officials: A Fact Sheet
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Salaries of Federal Officials: A Fact Sheet
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Civil Service Retirement Bills in the 106th Congress
Among the civil service retirement issues addressed in bills introduced thus far in the 106th Congress are the correction of retirement coverage errors for federal employees assigned to the wrong retirement system; immediate eligibility for federal employees to participate in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP); improved portability of pension benefits; and repeal of the temporary increase in employee retirement contributions that was mandated by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. Other bills would expand TSP eligibility to include members of the armed services; improve pension coverage for temporary and part-time federal employees; and designate several categories of federal employees as law enforcement officers for purposes of determining their retirement benefits.
Flexible Spending Accounts and Medical Savings Accounts: A Comparison
This report compares FSAs and MSAs. It begins by describing FSAs, the basis for their tax treatment, and data on their use. It then describes the MSA demonstration authorized by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), the basis for their tax treatment, and data on their use. The report concludes with a brief discussion of current legislation. In general, it discusses particular bills only when they are considered by committee or on the floor.
Flexible Spending Accounts and Medical Savings Accounts: A Comparison
This report compares FSAs and MSAs. It begins by describing FSAs, the basis for their tax treatment, and data on their use. It then describes the MSA demonstration authorized by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), the basis for their tax treatment, and data on their use. The report concludes with a brief discussion of current legislation. In general, it discusses particular bills only after they have been considered by committee or on the House or Senate floor.
Flexible Spending Accounts and Medical Savings Accounts: A Comparison
This report compares FSAs and MSAs. It begins by describing FSAs, the basis for their tax treatment, and data on their use. It then describes the MSA demonstration authorized by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), the basis for their tax treatment, and data on their use. The report concludes with a brief discussion of President Bush’s FY2004 budget proposal and the health savings accounts (HSAs) and health savings security accounts (HSSAs) that were included in H.R. 1, the House-passed Medicare prescription drug bill.
Immigration: The "H-2A" Temporary Agricultural Worker Program
In recent years, there have been various legislative efforts to modify or supplement the existing H-2A temporary agricultural program authorized by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Concern has centered on making the program easier for growers to use while still maintaining protections for domestic labor. Growers have made limited use of the program in the past and a few years ago program usage was in decline. Current trends, however, show an increase due in part to increased demand from tobacco growers. This report provides information on the H-2A program, illustrates current trends, discusses issues raised by the proposed changes, and tracks pending legislation.
Immigration: Nonimmigrant H-1B Specialty Worker Issues and Legislation
The 105 Congress is once again considering legislation pertaining to temporary alien workers, striving to balance the needs of U.S. employers with opportunities for U.S. workers. The largest category of these temporary alien workers are the H-1B nonimmigrants — professionals who work in specialty occupations. For the first time, the numerical limits on H-1B visas were reached prior to the end of FY1997, and the FY1998 ceiling was reached in May. Employers in “high tech” industries especially are urging Congress to eliminate the ceiling of 65,000, and legislation raising the H-1B ceiling as well as addressing other reforms has passed the Senate (S.1723).
Immigration: Legislative Issues on Nonimmigrant Professional Specialty (H-1B) Workers
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Immigration: Legislative Issues on Nonimmigrant Professional Specialty (H-1B) Workers
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Immigration: Legislative Issues on Nonimmigrant Professional Specialty (H-1B) Workers
The economic prosperity of the 1990s fueled a drive to increase the levels of employment-based immigration. The nation enjoyed its longest economic expansion, and the unemployment rate had remained low. Both the Congress and the Federal Reserve Board then expressed concern that a scarcity of labor could curtail the pace of economic growth. A primary legislative response was to increase the supply of foreign temporary professional workers through FY2003. The 108th Congress now weighs whether to extend the increases or let the levels revert to the statutory limit.
Immigration: Legislative Issues on Nonimmigrant Professional Specialty (H-1B) Workers
The economic prosperity of the 1990s fueled a drive to increase the levels of employment-based immigration. The nation enjoyed its longest economic expansion, and the unemployment rate had remained low. Both the Congress and the Federal Reserve Board then expressed concern that a scarcity of labor could curtail the pace of economic growth. A primary legislative response was to increase the supply of foreign temporary professional workers through FY2003. The 108th Congress now weighs whether to extend the increases or let the levels revert to the statutory limit.
Immigration: Legislative Issues on Nonimmigrant Professional Specialty (H-1B) Workers
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Immigration: Legislative Issues on Nonimmigrant Professional Specialty (H-1B) Workers
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Social Security Benefits for Noncitizens: Current Policy and Legislation
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Immigration: Policy Considerations Related to Guest Worker Programs
At present, the United States has two main programs for temporarily importing low-skilled workers, sometimes referred to as guest workers. Agricultural guest workers enter through the H-2A program and other guest workers enter through the H-2B program. Employers interested in importing workers under either program must first apply to the U.S. Labor Department for a certification that U.S. workers capable of performing the work are not available and that the employment of alien workers will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers. Other requirements of the programs differ.
Immigration: Policy Considerations Related to Guest Worker Programs
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The Male-Female Wage Gap: A Fact Sheet
Although women continue to often earn less than men, the size of the wage gap has gradually narrowed. Today, women with a strong attachment to the labor market typically earn 72-77 cents for every dollar earned by men. Studies have identified factors that contribute to the pay disparity, but they have been unable to fully justify its existence. The unexplained portion of the wage differential is often attributed entirely to discrimination (i.e., unequal rewards for equal labor market qualifications), but it also represents omitted variables and measurement error.
Does Trade Reduce Wages of U.S. Workers?
This report examines in some detail the hypothesis that trade is undermining the economic status of the American worker. Two questions are addressed: one, Has trade tended to reduce the average level of wages? and, two, Has trade increased the inequality of wages? The general conclusion reached is that poor wage performance is largely a problem of the domestic economy, that would have occurred with or without trade.
Unemployment Benefits: Legislative Issues in the 105th Congress
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Unemployment Benefits: Legislative Issues in the 107th Congress
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Unemployment Benefits: Legislative Issues in the 107th Congress
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Unemployment Benefits: Legislative Issues in the 107th Congress
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Unemployment Benefits: Legislative Issues in the 107th Congress
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Unemployment Benefits: Legislative Issues in the 107th Congress
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Unemployment Benefits: Legislative Issues in the 108th Congress
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Unemployment Benefits: Legislative Issues in the 108th Congress
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Political Spending by Organized Labor: Background and Current Issues
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Affirmative Action: Recent Congressional and Presidential Activity
In recent years, the U.S. Congress and the President have been reevaluating, and proposing changes to, existing affirmative action policies. Multiple bills to restrict affirmative action were introduced in the 104th Congress, but only one limited measure was enacted. Some anti-preference legislation is currently before the 105th Congress. The Clinton Administration has generally opposed efforts to terminate affirmative action programs and, instead, has proposed various reforms.
The Use of Labor Union Dues for Political Purposes: A Legal Analysis
By virtue of Section 224 of the USA PATRIOT Act, P.L. 107-56 (2001), several of the act’s amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, 50 U.S.C. 1801-1862, and the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. 2510-2522, 2701-2712, 3121-3127, were scheduled to expire on December 31, 2005, 115 Stat. 295 (2001). S. 2167 postpones the expiration dates of those provisions and of Section 6001 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (“lone wolf” amendment), 118 Stat. 3742 (2004), until February 3, 2006.
The Use of Union Dues for Political Purposes: A Discussion of Agency Fee Objectors and Public Policy
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The Use of Union Dues for Political Purposes: A Legal Analysis
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Business and Labor Spending in U.S. Elections
Federal election law has long prohibited corporate and union spending in federal elections, but distinctions in statutes and judicial rulings have opened avenues by which these groups have been able to spend money in the electoral process. Business groups make particular use of political action committee (PAC) donations to candidates and soft money donations to parties. Unions made prominent use of issue advocacy in 1996, but labor’s political strength lies in exempt activity communications with members. This report explains these tools and their use in today’s elections.
COLAs for Military Retirees: Summary of Congressional and Executive Branch Action, 1982-2001 (FY1983-FY2002)
The Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1982 (which applied to FY1983 budget issues) suspended previously existing permanent law pertaining to cost-of-living adjustments(COLAs) for federal civilian and military retirees, and changed the COLA calculation formulas to postpone and/or reduce future COLAs for military retirees during 1983-1985 (FY1984-FY1986).This report examines executive and congressional COLA-related initiatives associated with each of the fiscal year budgeting processes from calendar year 1982 (FY1983) through calendar year 2000 (FY2001).
COLAs for Military Retirees: Summary of Congressional and Executive Branch Action, 1982-2002 (FY1983-FY2003)
The Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1982 (which applied to FY1983 budget issues) suspended previously existing permanent law pertaining to cost-of-living adjustments(COLAs) for federal civilian and military retirees, and changed the COLA calculation formulas to postpone and/or reduce future COLAs for military retirees during 1983-1985 (FY1984-FY1986).This report examines executive and congressional COLA-related initiatives associated with each of the fiscal year budgeting processes from calendar year 1982 (FY1983) through calendar year 2000 (FY2001).
COLAs for Military Retirees: Summary of Congressional and Executive Branch Action, 1982-2003 (FY1983-FY2004)
The Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1982 (which applied to FY1983 budget issues) suspended previously existing permanent law pertaining to cost-of-living adjustments(COLAs) for federal civilian and military retirees, and changed the COLA calculation formulas to postpone and/or reduce future COLAs for military retirees during 1983-1985 (FY1984-FY1986).This report examines executive and congressional COLA-related initiatives associated with each of the fiscal year budgeting processes from calendar year 1982 (FY1983) through calendar year 2000 (FY2001).
Personnel Management Flexibility for the Internal Revenue Service: P.L. 105-206
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The Minimum Wage: An Overview of Issues Before the 106th Congress
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Enforceability of Mandatory Arbitration Agreements:
In Wright v. Universal Maritime Service Corp., the U.S. Supreme Court found that a mandatory arbitration clause in a collective bargaining agreement was not enforceable because it failed to specify arbitration as the covered employees' sole method of obtaining relief for their statutory claims. Without such explicit language in the agreement, the union could not have made a "clear and unmistakable waiver" of the employees' rights to a judicial forum. Although the Court identified a "clear and unmistakable waiver" standard for determining whether a mandatory arbitration agreement could be enforced, it refrained from deciding whether a union could actually bargain for such a waiver
OSHA Reform: "Partnership" with Employers
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Labor and Mandatory Arbitration Agreements: Background and Discussion
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Computer Services Personnel: Overtime Pay Under the Fair Labor Standards Act
The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA), as amended, is the primary federal statute in the area of minimum wages and overtime pay. Through administrative rulemaking, the Secretary of Labor has established two tests through which to define eligibility under the Section 13(a)(1) exemption: a duties test and an earnings test. In the 106th Congress, legislation was introduced by Representatives Andrews and Lazio that would have increased the scope of the exemption: first, by expanding the range of exempt job titles, and then, through a relative reduction in the value of the earnings threshold or test. For example, were the minimum wage increased to $6.15 per hour, as pending proposals would do, the value of the computer services exemption threshold would be 4.5 times the federal minimum wage. Ultimately, neither bill was enacted, but the issue has re-emerged as H.R. 1545 (Andrews) and H.R. 546 (Quinn).
Computer Services Personnel: Overtime Pay Under the Fair Labor Standards Act
The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA), as amended, is the primary federal statute in the area of minimum wages and overtime pay. Through administrative rulemaking, the Secretary of Labor has established two tests through which to define eligibility under the Section 13(a)(1) exemption: a duties test and an earnings test. In the 106th Congress, legislation was introduced by Representatives Andrews and Lazio that would have increased the scope of the exemption: first, by expanding the range of exempt job titles, and then, through a relative reduction in the value of the earnings threshold or test. For example, were the minimum wage increased to $6.15 per hour, as pending proposals would do, the value of the computer services exemption threshold would be 4.5 times the federal minimum wage. Ultimately, neither bill was enacted, but the issue has re-emerged as H.R. 1545 (Andrews) and H.R. 546 (Quinn).
Computer Services Personnel: Overtime Pay Under the Fair Labor Standards Act
The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA), as amended, is the primary federal statute in the area of minimum wages and overtime pay. Through administrative rulemaking, the Secretary of Labor has established two tests through which to define eligibility under the Section 13(a)(1) exemption: a duties test and an earnings test. In the 106th Congress, legislation was introduced by Representatives Andrews and Lazio that would have increased the scope of the exemption: first, by expanding the range of exempt job titles, and then, through a relative reduction in the value of the earnings threshold or test. For example, were the minimum wage increased to $6.15 per hour, as pending proposals would do, the value of the computer services exemption threshold would be 4.5 times the federal minimum wage. Ultimately, neither bill was enacted, but the issue has re-emerged as H.R. 1545 (Andrews) and H.R. 546 (Quinn).
Pay Equity Legislation in the 107th Congress
The term "pay equity" originates from the fact that women as a group are paid less than men. In 2000, for example, women with a strong commitment to the work force earned 76 cents for every dollar earned by men. As women's earnings as a percentage of men's earnings have narrowed by just 12 percentage points over the past four decades (from about 60% in the 1960s and 1970s to more than 70% in the 1990s), some members of the public policy community have argued that current anti-discrimination laws should be strengthened and that additional measures should be enacted. Others, in contrast, believe that further government intervention is unnecessary because the gender wage gap will narrow on its own as women's labor market qualifications continue to more closely resemble those of men.
Minimum Wage and Related Issues Before the 106th Congress: A Status Report
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