Summary:
(This measure has not been amended since the Senate agreed to the House amendment with an amendment on September 30, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Highlights:

This bill provides continuing FY2016 appropriations to federal agencies until December 11, 2015, or the enactment of specified appropriations legislation. It is known as a continuing resolution (CR) and prevents a government shutdown that would otherwise occur when FY2016 begins on October 1, 2015, because none of the twelve FY2016 regular appropriations bills that fund the federal government have been enacted.

The bill funds most projects and activities at the FY2015 levels, with the inclusion of an across-the-board reduction of less than 1% to most programs. The bill also includes a number of exceptions which provide funding flexibility and additional appropriations to various programs.

The bill extends several programs and laws that are scheduled to expire at the end of FY2015, including the E-Verify program and the moratorium imposed by the Internet Tax Freedom Act. (Unless otherwise indicated, all extensions referenced in this summary are for the duration of the CR.)

The bill also provides $700 million in emergency appropriations for Forest Service wildland fire suppression activities. Emergency funds are exempt from limits on discretionary spending.

The bill requires the Transportation Security Administration to take a number of actions to ensure that Office of Inspection employees that are classified and paid as criminal investigators meet all of the legal and regulatory requirements for criminal investigator positions.

Full Summary:

TSA Office of Inspection Accountability Act of 2015 or the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2016

(Sec. 4) Requires the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (OIG) to: (1) analyze the data and methods used by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to classify Office of Inspection (OOI) employees as criminal investigators; and (2) report relevant findings, including whether the data and methods are adequate and valid.

Prohibits the TSA from hiring new OOI employees if the OIG finds that the data and methods are inadequate or invalid until: (1) the TSA certifies to Congress that only OOI employees who meet the minimum legal requirements are classified as criminal investigators and are receiving premium pay and other benefits associated with the classification, and (2) the OIG finds that the TSA's certification utilized adequate and valid data and methods.

(Sec. 5) Requires the TSA to: (1) certify to Congress that only OOI employees who meet the minimum legal requirements are classified as criminal investigators and are receiving premium pay and other benefits associated with the classification, (2) reclassify OOI criminal investigator employees who do not, or are not expected to, spend an average of at least 50% of their time performing criminal investigative duties, and (3) report to Congress on the long-term cost savings from reclassified positions.

(Sec. 6) Requires the TSA to report to Congress on the OOI's review of instances in which Federal Air Marshal Service officials obtained discounted or free firearms for personal use.

(Sec. 7) Requires the OIG to submit to Congress a report: (1) reviewing the employee requirements, responsibilities, and benefits of criminal investigators in the OOI with criminal investigators employed at agencies adhering to the Office of Personnel Management employee classification system; and (2) identifying any inconsistencies and costs implications for differences between the varying employee requirements, responsibilities, and benefits.

(Sec. 8) Requires the OIG to submit to Congress a study reviewing: (1) the Federal Air Marshal Service's existing personnel policies and procedures for identifying misuse of government resources; and (2) the administration of the Federal Air Marshal Service's existing code of conduct or integrity policies with respect to instances of misconduct.

Provides continuing FY2016 appropriations to federal agencies until December 11, 2015, or enactment of specified appropriations legislation.

(Sec. 101) Provides FY2016 appropriations to federal agencies for continuing projects or activities at the levels of, and under the terms and conditions of FY2015 appropriations Acts, reduced by 0.21% of both defense and non-defense discretionary programs.

(Sec. 102) Prohibits funds provided by section 101 for the Department of Defense (DOD) from being used for: (1) new production of items not funded in FY2015 or prior years; (2) an increase in production rates above those sustained with FY2015 funds; or (3) the initiation, resumption, or continuation of any project, activity, operation, or organization for which funds or authority were not available during FY2015.

Prohibits funds provided by section 101 to DOD from being used to initiate certain multi-year procurements.

(Sec. 103) Specifies that funds provided by section 101 shall be available to the extent and in the manner that would be provided in the pertinent appropriations Act.

(Sec. 104) Prohibits any appropriations or funds made available by section 101 from being used to initiate or resume any project or activity which was not funded in FY2015.

(Sec. 105) Continues all authorities, requirements, and limitations from FY2015 appropriations Acts through the date in section 106 and permits valid obligations and expenditures during the period of this continuing resolution (CR).

(Sec. 106) Continues the appropriations provided by this bill through the earlier of December 11, 2015, or the enactment of the pertinent appropriations Act.

(Sec. 107) Requires expenditures for activities funded in this bill to be charged to the relevant account when the applicable appropriations bill becomes law.

(Sec. 108) Waives the normal time limitations for submission and approval of apportionments of accounts funded in annual appropriations Acts.

(Sec. 109) Limits disbursements for programs that otherwise would have high initial rates of operation or would complete distribution of funding at the beginning of the fiscal year if those actions would impinge on final congressional funding prerogatives.

(Sec. 110) Directs that this bill be implemented so that only the most limited funding action permitted by this bill is taken in order to provide for continuation of projects and activities.

(Sec. 111) Provides that entitlements and other mandatory payments with budget authority provided in FY2015 appropriations Acts and activities under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 shall continue at the rate to maintain program levels under current law and under the authority and conditions provided in the applicable FY2015 appropriations Act for up to 30 days after the expiration of the CR.

(Sec. 112) Provides that funding made available by this bill for civilian personnel compensation and benefits in each department and agency may be apportioned up to the rate of operations necessary to avoid furloughs. Requires all necessary actions to reduce or defer non-personnel-related administrative expenses to be taken prior to using this authority.

 (Sec. 113) Permits funds appropriated by this bill to be obligated and expended notwithstanding specified statutory provisions restricting appropriations for foreign assistance, the Department of State, international broadcasting, and intelligence activities in the absence of prior authorizations.

(Sec. 114) Extends designations for Overseas Contingency Operations/ Global War on Terrorism and disaster relief to funds provided by this bill that previously carried those designations.

Exempts funds designated or otherwise provided as Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism, the Social Security Administration's continuing disability reviews and redeterminations, health care fraud and abuse control, disaster relief, and emergency requirements from the across-the-board reduction included in section 101.

Provides that amounts designated for Overseas Contingency Operations/ Global War on Terrorism shall only be available if the President subsequently designates the amounts and transmits the designations to Congress.

(Sec. 115) Applies the across-the-board reduction in section 101 to advance appropriations made in prior years that first become available in FY2016.

(Sec. 116) Provides a higher rate of funding for the Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Commodity Assistance Program, including the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which is a domestic food assistance program that predominantly serves low-income elderly individuals.

(Sec. 117) Provides USDA with funding flexibility to pay ongoing debt service for multi-family direct loan program rental assistance contracts under sections 514 and 515 of the Housing Act of 1949. Permits the renewal during the duration of the CR of rental assistance contracts entered into or renewed in 2015 that exhausted funds within the 12-month contract period.

(Sec. 118) Provides the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with funding flexibility to maintain launch schedules for the Joint Polar Satellite System. (Polar-orbiting satellites circle the earth in a north-south orbit and provide the primary inputs for weather prediction models.)

(Sec. 119) Permits the transfer of certain unobligated balances from the Assets Forfeiture Fund to the U.S. Marshals Service's Federal Prisoner Detention account to fund federal prisoner detention operations for the duration of the CR.

(Sec. 120) Extends the availability of previously appropriated funds to support closeout activities of the Space Shuttle Program.

(Sec. 121) Permits uncompleted Broadband Technology Opportunities Program projects to continue to expend obligated funds through FY2020.

(Sec. 122) Extends the authority for the Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq and the authority to pay cash rewards to persons assisting U.S. forces in counterterrorism operations.

(Sec. 123) Permits funds provided by this bill to the Department of Energy for the Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund to be apportioned up to the rate for operations necessary to avoid disruption of continuing projects and activities. (This account primarily funds the decommissioning and environmental remediation of three federal uranium enrichment facilities in Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee.)

(Sec. 124) Permits the District of Columbia to spend funds collected through local taxes and other non-federal sources at the rate set forth in the DC FY2016 Budget Request Act of 2015.

(Sec. 125) States that no funds are provided by this bill for the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, which was established to provide oversight and transparency in the expenditure of funds provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

(Sec. 126) Provides the Small Business Administration with funding flexibility to accommodate increased demand for general business loans authorized under section 7(a) of the Small Business Act.

(Sec. 127) Extends the Internet Tax Freedom Act, which includes a moratorium preventing state and local governments from taxing Internet access or imposing multiple or discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce.

(Sec. 128) Permits the Office of Management and Budget to make specified adjustments to discretionary spending limits to account for estimating differences with the Congressional Budget Office.

(Sec. 129) Extends the authority of the Department of Homeland Security to use certain procurement agreements for research and development projects with non-traditional government contractors.

(Sec. 130) Extends the E-Verify employment authorization program.

(Sec. 131) Extends the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Program.

(Sec. 132) Extends the special immigrant status granted to religious workers other than ministers.

(Sec. 133) Extends the authority for the visa waiver program for rural doctors.

(Sec. 134) Amends the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to extend through September 30, 2017, the authority of federal agencies to establish, collect, and retain fees on federal recreational lands and waters.

(Sec. 135) Appropriates $700 million in emergency funding, to remain available until expended, for urgent Forest Service wildland fire suppression activities if: (1) funds previously provided for fire suppression will be exhausted imminently, and (2) the appropriations committees are notified.

Permits the funds to be transferred to other appropriations accounts to repay amounts previously transferred for wildfire suppression. Designates the funds as an emergency requirement, which will only become available if the President also designates the amounts. (Emergency funds are exempt from discretionary spending limits and other budget enforcement rules.)

(Sec. 136) Extends the authority of the Department of the Interior to establish higher rates of pay for certain employees in the petroleum engineering and geoscience fields working on both offshore and onshore oil and gas development.

(Sec. 137) Extends the authority for the Eisenhower Memorial Commission and continues the construction limitation for the Memorial imposed in 2015 and prior years.

(Sec. 138) Amends the Carl Levin and Howard P. ''Buck'' McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 to provide that certain funding for the Department of the Interior's Payments In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program is available for FY2015. (PILT compensates local governments for the presence of federally owned land.)

(Sec. 139) Permits funds made available in prior appropriations bills for construction and renovation of facilities for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to be used for construction of a replacement freezer building on leased land.

(Sec. 140) Extends through the 2016-2017 school year the authority of the Department of Education to include teachers pursuing alternative routes to certification in the definition of a highly qualified teacher under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

(Sec. 141) Incorporates and continues a rescission of Children's Health Insurance Program funds.

(Sec. 142) Extends the authority for the Department of Education's National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity. (The committee is responsible for assessing the process of accreditation in higher education and the institutional eligibility and certification of institutions of higher education to participate in federal student aid programs authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act.)

(Sec. 143) Appropriates a $174,000 death gratuity to the widow of Representative Alan Nunnelee. (A gratuity equal to one year's salary has long been given to the heirs of Members of Congress who die in office.)

(Sec. 144) Permits specified unobligated Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) funds to be transferred to the Construction--Major Projects account to cover costs for completion of the Denver Replacement Medical Center, subject to the approval of Congress.

(Sec. 145) Provides additional funding for Veterans Benefits Administration general operating expenses to continue progress on the disability claims backlog.

(Sec. 146) Continues a rescission of VA Medical Services, Medical Support and Compliance, and Medical Facilities funds that routinely accompanies a reappropriation of the funds to extend the availability of the funds from one to two years.

(Sec. 147) Extends the authority for the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.

(Sec. 148) Provides funding flexibility for specified international activities to sustain assistance for Ukraine to counter external, regional aggression and influence, including for the costs of authorized loan guarantees.

(Sec. 149) Extends the authority for the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy.

(Sec. 150) Provides the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with funding flexibility to maintain the schedule for the New Core Shared Services Project. (The project is a transition of HUD's financial management systems to a federal shared services provider.)

measure amended senate agreed house amendment amendment september summary version repeated bill provides continuing fy2016 appropriations federal agencies december enactment specified appropriations legislation known continuing resolution prevents government shutdown occur fy2016 begins october fy2016 regular appropriations bills fund federal_government enacted bill funds projects activities fy2015 levels inclusion board reduction programs bill includes number exceptions provide funding flexibility additional appropriations programs bill extends programs laws scheduled expire end fy2015 including e-verify_program moratorium imposed internet tax freedom act indicated extensions referenced summary duration bill provides million emergency appropriations forest_service wildland fire suppression activities emergency funds exempt limits discretionary spending bill requires transportation_security_administration number actions ensure office inspection employees classified paid criminal investigators meet legal regulatory requirements criminal investigator positions summary tsa office inspection accountability_act continuing appropriations act sec requires department_of_homeland_security office_of_inspector_general analyze data methods transportation_security_administration tsa classify office inspection employees criminal investigators report relevant findings including data methods adequate valid prohibits tsa hiring new employees finds data methods inadequate invalid tsa certifies congress employees meet minimum legal requirements classified criminal investigators receiving premium pay benefits associated classification finds tsa certification utilized adequate valid data methods sec requires tsa certify congress employees meet minimum legal requirements classified criminal investigators receiving premium pay benefits associated classification reclassify criminal investigator employees expected spend average time performing criminal investigative duties report congress long term cost savings reclassified positions sec requires tsa report congress review instances federal_air_marshal_service officials obtained discounted free firearms personal use sec requires submit congress report reviewing employee requirements responsibilities benefits criminal investigators criminal investigators employed agencies adhering office_of_personnel_management employee classification system identifying inconsistencies costs implications differences varying employee requirements responsibilities benefits sec requires submit congress study reviewing federal_air_marshal_service existing personnel policies procedures identifying misuse government resources administration federal_air_marshal_service existing code conduct integrity policies respect instances misconduct provides continuing fy2016 appropriations federal agencies december enactment specified appropriations legislation sec provides fy2016 appropriations federal agencies continuing projects activities levels terms conditions fy2015 appropriations acts reduced defense non defense discretionary programs sec prohibits funds provided section department_of_defense dod new production items funded fy2015 prior years increase production rates sustained fy2015 funds initiation resumption continuation project activity operation organization funds authority available fy2015 prohibits funds provided section dod initiate certain multi year procurements sec specifies funds provided section shall available extent manner provided pertinent appropriations act sec prohibits appropriations funds available section initiate resume project activity funded fy2015 sec continues authorities requirements limitations fy2015 appropriations acts date section permits valid obligations expenditures period continuing resolution sec continues appropriations provided bill earlier december enactment pertinent appropriations act sec requires expenditures activities funded bill charged relevant account applicable appropriations bill law sec waives normal time limitations submission approval apportionments accounts funded annual appropriations acts sec limits disbursements programs high initial rates operation complete distribution funding beginning fiscal year actions final congressional funding sec directs bill implemented limited funding action permitted bill taken order provide continuation projects activities sec provides entitlements mandatory payments budget authority provided fy2015 appropriations acts activities food_and_nutrition_act_of_2008 shall continue rate maintain program levels current law authority conditions provided applicable fy2015 appropriations act days expiration sec provides funding available bill civilian personnel compensation benefits department agency apportioned rate operations necessary avoid requires necessary actions reduce defer non personnel related administrative expenses taken prior authority sec permits funds appropriated bill obligated expended notwithstanding specified statutory provisions restricting appropriations foreign assistance department_of_state international broadcasting intelligence activities absence prior authorizations sec extends designations overseas contingency global war terrorism disaster relief funds provided bill previously carried designations exempts funds designated provided overseas contingency operations global war terrorism social_security_administration continuing disability reviews health_care fraud abuse control disaster relief emergency requirements board reduction included section provides amounts designated overseas contingency global war terrorism shall available president subsequently designates amounts transmits designations congress sec applies board reduction section advance appropriations prior years available fy2016 sec provides higher rate funding department_of_agriculture usda commodity assistance program including commodity supplemental food program domestic food assistance program predominantly serves low income elderly individuals sec provides usda funding flexibility pay ongoing debt service multi family direct_loan program rental assistance contracts sections housing act permits renewal duration rental assistance contracts entered renewed exhausted funds month contract period sec provides national_oceanic_and_atmospheric_administration funding flexibility maintain launch schedules joint polar satellite system polar satellites earth north south provide primary inputs weather prediction models sec permits transfer certain unobligated balances assets forfeiture fund marshals service federal prisoner detention account fund federal prisoner detention operations duration sec extends availability previously appropriated funds support activities space program sec permits broadband technology opportunities program projects continue expend obligated funds fy2020 sec extends authority office security cooperation iraq authority pay cash rewards persons assisting forces counterterrorism operations sec permits funds provided bill department_of_energy uranium_enrichment_decontamination_and_decommissioning_fund apportioned rate operations necessary avoid disruption continuing projects activities account primarily funds decommissioning environmental remediation federal uranium enrichment facilities kentucky ohio tennessee sec permits district_of_columbia spend funds collected local taxes non federal sources rate set forth fy2016 budget request act sec states funds provided bill recovery accountability transparency board established provide oversight transparency expenditure funds provided american_recovery_and_reinvestment_act sec provides small_business_administration funding flexibility accommodate increased demand general business loans authorized section small_business_act sec extends internet tax freedom act includes moratorium preventing state local governments taxing internet access imposing multiple discriminatory taxes electronic commerce sec permits office_of_management_and_budget specified adjustments discretionary spending limits account estimating differences congressional_budget_office sec extends authority department_of_homeland_security use certain procurement agreements research development projects non traditional government contractors sec extends verify employment authorization program sec extends eb-5 immigrant investor visa program sec extends special immigrant status granted religious workers sec extends authority visa waiver program rural doctors sec amends federal_lands_recreation_enhancement_act extend september authority federal agencies establish collect retain fees federal recreational lands waters sec appropriates million emergency funding remain available expended urgent forest_service wildland fire suppression activities funds previously provided fire suppression exhausted imminently appropriations committees notified permits funds transferred appropriations accounts repay amounts previously transferred wildfire suppression designates funds emergency requirement available president designates amounts emergency funds exempt discretionary spending limits budget enforcement rules sec extends authority department_of_the_interior establish higher rates pay certain employees petroleum engineering fields working offshore onshore oil gas development sec extends authority memorial commission continues construction limitation memorial imposed prior years sec amends carl national_defense_authorization_act fiscal year provide certain funding department_of_the_interior payments lieu taxes pilt program available fy2015 pilt compensates local governments presence federally owned land sec permits funds available prior appropriations bills construction renovation facilities centers_for_disease_control_and_prevention construction replacement building leased land sec extends school year authority department_of_education include teachers pursuing alternative routes certification definition highly qualified teacher child left act sec incorporates continues rescission children health insurance program funds sec extends authority department_of_education national advisory_committee institutional quality integrity committee responsible assessing process accreditation higher education institutional eligibility certification institutions higher education participate federal student aid programs authorized title higher education act sec appropriates death gratuity widow representative gratuity equal year salary long given heirs members congress die office sec permits specified unobligated department_of_veterans_affairs funds transferred construction major projects account cover costs completion denver replacement medical center subject approval congress sec provides additional funding veterans_benefits_administration general operating expenses continue progress disability claims backlog sec continues rescission medical services medical support compliance medical facilities funds routinely accompanies funds extend availability funds years sec extends authority commission international religious freedom sec provides funding flexibility specified international activities sustain assistance ukraine counter external regional aggression influence including costs authorized loan guarantees sec extends authority advisory commission public diplomacy sec provides department_of_housing_and_urban_development hud funding flexibility maintain schedule new core shared services project project transition hud financial management systems federal shared services provider


Summary:
Government Employee Accountability Act

Sets forth guidelines for placing career employees of the Senior Executive Service (SES) on investigative leave. Defines "investigative leave" as a temporary absence without duty for disciplinary reasons, of a period not greater than 90 days.

Authorizes a federal agency to: (1) place an SES employee on investigative leave, without loss of pay and without charge to annual or sick leave, only for misconduct, neglect of duty, malfeasance, or misappropriation of funds; (2) place such employee on leave without pay if such employee's conduct is flagrant and such employee intentionally engaged in such conduct; or (3) remove such employee if such employee acted in a manner that endangers the interest of the agency mission and the removal is deemed necessary or advisable in the interests of the United States.

Requires an agency head to periodically review the investigation into the conduct of an SES employee placed on investigative leave and take certain actions with respect to such employee at the end of a period of investigative leave, including removal, suspension without pay, or reinstatement to duty. Grants an employee placed on investigative leave certain rights, including: (1) advance written notice of, and the right to answer, charges; (2) the right to be represented by an attorney; and (3) the right to appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board.

Includes misappropriation of funds as a ground in suspending or reinstating an SES employee or placing such employee in another civil service position.

government employee accountability_act sets forth guidelines placing career employees senior_executive_service ses investigative leave defines investigative leave temporary absence duty disciplinary reasons period greater days authorizes federal agency place ses employee investigative leave loss pay charge annual sick leave misconduct neglect duty misappropriation funds place employee leave pay employee conduct flagrant employee intentionally engaged conduct remove employee employee acted manner endangers interest agency mission removal deemed necessary advisable interests united_states requires agency head periodically review investigation conduct ses employee placed investigative leave certain actions respect employee end period investigative leave including removal suspension pay reinstatement duty grants employee placed investigative leave certain rights including advance written notice right answer charges right represented attorney right appeal merit_systems_protection_board includes misappropriation funds ground suspending reinstating ses employee placing employee civil service position


Summary:
Federal Employee Pension Fairness Act of 2015

Repeals provisions requiring federal employees, including foreign service employees, who began service after 2012 to pay an increased contribution (4.4%) for funding their annuities under the Federal Employees Retirement System.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) treat certain foreign corporations managed and controlled primarily in the United States as domestic corporations for U.S. tax purposes; and (2) revise rules for the taxation of inverted corporations (i.e., U.S. corporations that acquire foreign companies to reincorporate in a foreign jurisdiction with lower income tax rates than the United States).

federal employee pension fairness act repeals provisions requiring federal employees including foreign_service employees began service pay increased contribution funding annuities federal_employees_retirement_system amends_the_internal_revenue_code treat certain foreign corporations managed controlled primarily united_states domestic corporations tax purposes revise rules taxation inverted corporations corporations acquire foreign companies reincorporate foreign jurisdiction lower income tax rates united_states


Summary:
Social Security Fairness Act of 2015

 Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to repeal the government pension offset requirement applicable to and reducing husband's and wife's insurance benefits, widow's and widower's insurance benefits, and divorced mother's and divorced father's insurance benefits with respect to federal, state, or local government employees who receive a government pension and did not pay Social Security taxes during their years of government service, and so did not earn entitlement to Social Security benefits for those years.

Repeals also the windfall elimination requirement with respect to computation of an individual's primary insurance amount under which OASDI retirement or disability benefits are reduced if the individual receives a federal, state, or local government pension, did not pay Social Security taxes during the years of government service, and so did not earn entitlement to Social Security benefits for those years.

social_security fairness act amends title old age survivors disability_insurance oasdi social_security_act repeal government pension offset requirement applicable reducing husband wife insurance benefits widow widower insurance benefits divorced mother divorced father insurance benefits respect federal state local government employees receive government pension pay social_security taxes years government service earn entitlement social_security benefits years repeals windfall elimination requirement respect computation individual primary insurance oasdi retirement disability benefits reduced individual receives federal state local government pension pay social_security taxes years government service earn entitlement social_security benefits years


Summary:
Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2015

Provides that: (1) specified diseases, including heart disease, lung disease, and specified cancers of federal employees employed in fire protection activities for a minimum of 5 years shall be presumed to be proximately caused by such employment if the employee is diagnosed with the disease within 10 years of the last active date of employment in fire protection activities; (2) the disability or death of such an employee due to such a disease shall be presumed to result from personal injury sustained while in the performance of duty; and (3) such presumption may be rebutted by a preponderance of the evidence. Allows such presumption for fire protection employees who contract any uncommon infectious disease, including but not limited to tuberculosis, hepatitis A, B, or C, or the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), regardless of the length of employment of such employee.

Defines an "employee in fire protection activities" as a firefighter, paramedic, emergency medical technician, rescue worker, ambulance personnel, or hazardous material worker, who: (1) is trained in fire suppression; (2) has the legal authority and responsibility to engage in fire suppression; (3) is engaged in the prevention, control, and extinguishment of fires or response to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk; and (4) performs such activities as a primary responsibility of his or her job.

Directs the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to examine the implementation of this Act and appropriate scientific and medical data related to the health risks associated with firefighting and to report to Congress on: (1) an analysis of the injury claims made under this Act, (2) an analysis of the available research related to the health risks associated with firefighting, and (3) recommendations for any administrative or legislative actions necessary to ensure that those diseases most associated with firefighting are included in the presumption created by this Act.

federal firefighters fairness act provides specified diseases including heart disease lung disease specified cancers federal employees employed fire protection activities minimum years shall presumed proximately caused employment employee diagnosed disease years active date employment fire protection activities disability death employee disease shall presumed result personal injury sustained performance duty presumption rebutted preponderance evidence allows presumption fire protection employees contract infectious disease including limited tuberculosis hepatitis human immunodeficiency virus hiv regardless length employment employee defines employee fire protection activities firefighter paramedic emergency medical technician rescue worker ambulance personnel hazardous material worker trained fire suppression legal authority responsibility engage fire suppression engaged prevention control extinguishment fires response emergency situations life property environment risk performs activities primary responsibility job directs national institute occupational safety health centers_for_disease_control_and_prevention examine implementation act appropriate scientific medical data related health risks associated firefighting report congress analysis injury claims act analysis available research related health risks associated firefighting recommendations administrative legislative actions necessary ensure diseases associated firefighting included presumption created act


Summary:
Trust Returned to the United States Taxpayer Act or the TRUST Act

Denies retirement benefits under the Civil Service Retirement System and the Federal Employees Retirement System to a Member of Congress who is convicted of any crime committed after the enactment of this Act that is a felony under federal or state law (currently, limited to specified felonies under federal law).

trust returned united_states taxpayer act trust act denies retirement benefits civil_service_retirement_system federal_employees_retirement_system member congress convicted crime committed enactment act felony federal state law currently limited specified felonies federal law


Summary:
Promoting Accountability in Decisions for Progress Act or the PAID for Progress Act

Reduces by 8.7% the rate of basic pay for the President, Members of Congress, and any federal employee occupying a position within the federal government or a covered enterprise (defined as the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, or any federally-chartered affiliate thereof) for which the annual rate of basic pay exceeds $100,000.

Requires such basic pay rates to be adjusted by the rate of the percent change in real median household income of the United States as published by the Bureau of the Census.

promoting accountability decisions progress act paid progress act reduces rate basic pay president members congress federal employee occupying position federal_government covered enterprise defined federal_national_mortgage_association federal_home_loan_mortgage_corporation federally chartered affiliate thereof annual rate basic pay exceeds requires basic pay rates adjusted rate percent change real median household income united_states published bureau_of_the_census


Summary:
Postal Employee Appeal Rights Amendments Act

Extends federal employee protections against adverse personnel actions, including the right to appeal such actions to the Merit Systems Protection Board, to any officer or employee of the U.S. Postal Service who is not represented by a bargaining representative and is in a supervisory, professional, technical, clerical, administrative, or managerial position covered by the Executive and Administrative Schedule.

postal employee appeal rights amendments act extends federal employee protections adverse personnel actions including right appeal actions merit_systems_protection_board officer employee postal_service represented bargaining representative supervisory professional technical clerical administrative managerial position covered executive administrative schedule


Summary:
Government Employee Pension Reform Act of 2015

This bill revises the definition of "average pay" for purposes of federal employee pensions under the Civil Service Retirement System and the Federal Employees Retirement System to mean the largest annual rate resulting from averaging rates of base pay over any five (currently, three) consecutive years of creditable service. This change will take effect on January 1, 2017.

government employee pension reform_act bill revises definition average pay purposes federal employee pensions civil_service_retirement_system federal_employees_retirement_system mean largest annual rate resulting averaging rates base pay currently consecutive years creditable service change effect january


Summary:
CFPB Pay Fairness Act of 2015

 Amends the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, with respect to compensation of employees of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), to require the CFPB Director to set and adjust the rates of basic pay for CFPB employees in accordance with the General Schedule for federal employees. (Currently, the Director is merely authorized to do so.)

Repeals the requirement that the Director at all times provide compensation (including benefits) to each class of employees at least comparable to the compensation and benefits then being provided by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for the corresponding class of Federal Reserve employees. Repeals also the requirement that all such employees be compensated (including benefits) on terms and conditions consistent with specified terms and conditions of the Federal Reserve Act.

cfpb pay fairness act amends dodd-frank_wall_street_reform consumer protection act respect compensation employees consumer_financial_protection_bureau cfpb require cfpb director set adjust rates basic pay cfpb employees accordance general_schedule federal employees currently director merely authorized repeals requirement director times provide compensation including benefits class employees comparable compensation benefits provided board_of_governors federal_reserve_system corresponding class federal_reserve employees repeals requirement employees compensated including benefits terms conditions consistent specified terms conditions federal_reserve_act


Summary:
Prohibits the use of funds appropriated or otherwise made available for the official travel expenses of a Member of Congress for airline accommodations which are not coach-class accommodations.

 Prohibits similarly use for the long-term leasing of a vehicle of any funds appropriated or otherwise made available for the operations of a House of Congress, including the official and representational expenses of a Member or the expenses of a congressional committee or leadership office.

prohibits use funds appropriated available official travel expenses member congress airline accommodations coach class accommodations prohibits similarly use long term leasing vehicle funds appropriated available operations house congress including official representational expenses member expenses congressional committee leadership office


Summary:
Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to treat field emergency medical service practitioners in the same manner as firefighters or law enforcement officers for purposes of exempting state employers from otherwise prohibited age discrimination practices.

Allows an employer that is a state, political subdivision, and interstate agency to fail or refuse to hire, or to discharge, any such practitioner because of the individual's age if the employer provides the practitioner an annual opportunity to demonstrate physical and mental fitness by passing a job performance test identified by the Department of Health and Human Services in order to continue employment.

Defines "field emergency medical service practitioner" as an employee, the duties of whose position are primarily to perform work directly connected with the responsibility of administration of specialized pre-hospital emergency care for victims of acute illnesses or injury, including an employee engaged in such activity who is transferred to a supervisory or administrative position.

amends age discrimination employment act treat field emergency medical service practitioners manner firefighters law enforcement officers purposes exempting state employers prohibited age discrimination practices allows employer state political subdivision interstate agency fail refuse hire discharge practitioner individual age employer provides practitioner annual opportunity demonstrate physical mental fitness passing job performance test identified department_of_health_and_human_services order continue employment defines field emergency medical service practitioner employee duties position primarily perform work directly connected responsibility administration specialized pre hospital emergency care victims acute illnesses injury including employee engaged activity transferred supervisory administrative position


Summary:
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House reported version is repeated here.)

Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act

(Sec. 2) Makes an employee of specified land management agencies in the Department of the Interior serving under a time-limited, including a temporary, appointment in the competitive service eligible to compete for a permanent appointment in any land management agency or any other agency if: (1) the original appointment was competitive, (2) the employee has served under one or more time-limited appointments totaling more than 24 months without a break of two or more years, and (3) the employee's performance has been at an acceptable level.

Requires the Office of Personnel Management or other examining agency, in determining the eligibility of a time-limited employee to be examined for or appointed in the competitive service, to waive requirements as to age, unless the requirement is essential to the performance of the duties of the position.

Provides that an individual appointed under the provisions of this Act becomes a career-conditional employee and acquires competitive status upon appointment.

Deems a former employee of a land management agency who served under a time-limited appointment and who otherwise meets applicable requirements to be a time-limited employee for purposes of this Act if: (1) such employee applies for a position covered by this Act within two years after the most recent date of separation, and (2) such employee's most recent separation was for reasons other than misconduct or performance.

measure amended introduced expanded summary house reported version repeated land management workforce flexibility act sec makes employee specified land management agencies department_of_the_interior serving time limited including temporary appointment competitive service eligible compete permanent appointment land management agency agency original appointment competitive employee served time limited appointments totaling months break years employee performance acceptable level requires office_of_personnel_management examining agency determining eligibility time limited employee examined appointed competitive service waive requirements age requirement essential performance duties position provides individual appointed provisions act career conditional employee acquires competitive status appointment deems employee land management agency served time limited appointment meets applicable requirements time limited employee purposes act employee applies position covered act years recent date separation employee recent separation reasons misconduct performance


Summary:
Safeguarding America's Congressional Oversight Act or the SACO Act

Terminates from employment any federal employee who: (1) refuses to answer questions in a congressional hearing after being granted immunity; (2) in a congressional hearing, refuses to answer questions specifically, directly, and narrowly relating to his or her official duties, without being required to waive immunity with respect to the use of answers or the fruits thereof in a criminal prosecution; or (3) is found, by three-fourths of the congressional body to which testimony is given, to have willfully or knowingly given false testimony in a congressional hearing.

safeguarding_america congressional oversight act act terminates employment federal employee refuses answer questions congressional hearing granted immunity congressional hearing refuses answer questions specifically directly narrowly relating official duties required waive immunity respect use answers fruits thereof criminal prosecution found congressional body testimony given willfully knowingly given false testimony congressional hearing


Summary:
Federal Employee Antidiscrimination Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 to: (1) expand disclosure and enforcement requirements relating to findings of acts of discrimination and retaliation in the federal workplace, and (2) amend the sense of Congress provisions of such Act to declare that accountability in the enforcement of federal employee rights is furthered when federal agencies take appropriate disciplinary action against employees who have been found to have committed discriminatory or retaliatory acts.

(Sec. 3) With respect to disclosure of findings of discrimination or retaliation in an agency, the bill requires an agency to provide notice on its website for at least one year regarding any finding by the agency or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) of discrimination or retaliation in the agency. The notice shall identify the date the finding was made, the dates the discriminatory or retaliatory acts occurred, the laws violated, and shall advise employees of their rights and protections available under law.

(Sec. 4) With respect to agency reporting requirements, the bill requires agencies to:

 submit their annual reports to Congress, the EEOC, and Department of Justice on discrimination and retaliation in an electronic format; report to the EEOC on whether disciplinary action has been initiated against an employee who has committed an act of discrimination or retaliation; and include in the data on equal employment opportunity complaints posted on their websites whether a decision has been made to pursue disciplinary action against an employee who has committed an act of discrimination or retaliation and additional data on each class action complaint filed against the federal agency alleging discrimination or retaliation. (Sec. 7) The bill also requires federal agencies to: (1) establish a system to track each complaint of discrimination adjudicated by the EEOC from inception to resolution, including whether a decision has been made on necessary disciplinary action as a result of a finding of discrimination; and (2) make a notation in an employee's personnel record of any adverse action taken against the employee for an act of discrimination or retaliation.

The bill declares that each federal agency is responsible for the fair, impartial processing and resolution of complaints of employment discrimination and retaliation and requires each agency to establish a model Equal Employment Opportunity Program that is not under the control of a Human Capital or General Counsel Office, is devoid of internal conflicts of interest, and ensures fairness, inclusiveness, and the efficient resolution of complaints alleging discrimination or retaliation.

The bill authorizes the EEOC to refer a finding of discrimination or retaliation within a federal agency to the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) if the EEOC determines that the agency did not take appropriate action. The OSC shall review the referrals for purposes of seeking disciplinary action.

The EEOC must include such referrals in its annual report on the federal workforce.

(Sec. 8) The bill prohibits the implementation or enforcement of nondisclosure policies, forms, or agreements that prohibit or restrict an employee from disclosing to Congress, the OSC, or an Office of the Inspector General any information relating to any violation of law, mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety or any other whistleblower protection.

(Sec. 9) Federal agencies must propose a minimum 12-day suspension for a first violation, or removal for a second violation, of a supervisor who has been determined to have: (1) committed a prohibited personnel practice that discriminates for or against an employee or applicant based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, handicap condition, or marital status; or (2) accessed an employee's medical records or taken personnel actions against an employee or applicant in retaliation for protected whistleblower disclosures or activities. An agency must carry out the suspension or removal if, after providing the supervisor an opportunity to answer and furnish evidence, the agency determines that the supervisor's evidence is insufficient to reverse the proposed suspension or removal.

These suspension and removal requirements do not apply to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the National Reconnaissance Office, the Government Accountability Office, or certain executive agencies whose principal function the President determines is the conduct of foreign intelligence or counterintelligence activities.

federal employee act sec bill amends notification federal employee retaliation act expand disclosure enforcement requirements relating findings acts discrimination retaliation federal workplace amend sense congress provisions act declare accountability enforcement federal employee rights federal agencies appropriate disciplinary action employees found committed discriminatory retaliatory acts sec respect disclosure findings discrimination retaliation agency bill requires agency provide notice website year finding agency equal_employment_opportunity_commission eeoc discrimination retaliation agency notice shall identify date finding dates discriminatory retaliatory acts occurred laws violated shall advise employees rights protections available law sec respect agency reporting requirements bill requires agencies submit annual reports congress eeoc department_of_justice discrimination retaliation electronic format report eeoc disciplinary action initiated employee committed act discrimination retaliation include data equal employment opportunity complaints posted websites decision pursue disciplinary action employee committed act discrimination retaliation additional data class action complaint filed federal agency alleging discrimination retaliation sec bill requires federal agencies establish system track complaint discrimination adjudicated eeoc inception resolution including decision necessary disciplinary action result finding discrimination notation employee personnel record adverse action taken employee act discrimination retaliation bill declares federal agency responsible fair impartial processing resolution complaints employment discrimination retaliation requires agency establish model equal employment opportunity program control human capital general counsel office internal conflicts interest ensures fairness inclusiveness efficient resolution complaints alleging discrimination retaliation bill authorizes eeoc refer finding discrimination retaliation federal agency office_of_special_counsel eeoc determines agency appropriate action shall review referrals purposes seeking disciplinary action eeoc include referrals annual report federal workforce sec bill prohibits implementation enforcement nondisclosure policies forms agreements prohibit restrict employee disclosing congress office_of_the_inspector_general information relating violation law mismanagement gross waste funds abuse authority substantial specific danger public health safety whistleblower protection sec federal agencies propose minimum day suspension violation removal second violation supervisor determined committed prohibited personnel practice discriminates employee applicant based race color religion sex national origin age condition marital status accessed employee medical records taken personnel actions employee applicant retaliation protected whistleblower disclosures activities agency carry suspension removal providing supervisor opportunity answer furnish evidence agency determines supervisor evidence insufficient reverse proposed suspension removal suspension removal requirements apply federal_bureau_of_investigation central_intelligence_agency defense_intelligence_agency national_geospatial-intelligence_agency national_security_agency office_of_the_director national_intelligence national_reconnaissance_office government_accountability_office certain executive agencies principal function president determines conduct foreign intelligence counterintelligence activities


Summary:
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) Makes any individual who has a seriously delinquent tax debt ineligible for federal employment or to continue serving as a federal employee. Defines "seriously delinquent tax debt" as a  federal tax liability assessed by the Internal Revenue Service and collectible by levy or court proceeding, except a tax debt: (1) that is being paid in a timely manner under an approved installment payment agreement or an offer-in-compromise, (2) for which a collection due process hearing has been requested or pending, (3) for which a continuous levy has been issued or agreed to by an applicant for employment, or (4) with respect to which such a levy is released because it has been determined to be an economic hardship to the taxpayer.

Requires each federal agency to: (1) ensure that applicants for employment certify that they do not have a seriously delinquent tax debt, (2) review public records to determine if a notice of lien has been filed against an employee or applicant, and (3) restrict access to and use of information obtained under this Act.

Authorizes an agency, if a tax lien against a federal employee or applicant for federal employment is discovered in a public record, to: (1) request such employee or applicant to execute and submit a form authorizing the Department of the Treasury to disclose to an agency head information describing whether the employee or applicant has a seriously delinquent tax debt, has willfully failed to file a required tax return, or has understated tax liability, and (2) request that Treasury disclose information authorized to be disclosed.

Authorizes the head of an agency to take personnel actions against an agency employee who willfully failed to file a required tax return or willfully understated federal tax liability.

Requires the Office of Personnel Management to: (1) promulgate regulations to carry out this Act that provide federal employees and applicants for employment with all due process rights and that allow, in a situation involving financial hardship, an employee with a seriously delinquent tax debt to continue employment; and (2) report to Congress annually on the number of exemptions granted for financial hardship. Grants federal employees or applicants for federal employment 180 days to demonstrate that their tax debts are exempt from classification as a seriously delinquent tax debt under this Act.

(Sec. 3) Makes this Act effective nine months after its enactment date.

measure amended introduced summary expanded action occurred measure federal employee tax accountability_act sec makes individual seriously delinquent tax debt ineligible federal employment continue serving federal employee defines seriously delinquent tax debt federal tax liability assessed internal_revenue_service collectible levy court proceeding tax debt paid timely manner approved installment payment agreement offer compromise collection process hearing requested pending continuous levy issued agreed applicant employment respect levy released determined economic hardship taxpayer requires federal agency ensure applicants employment certify seriously delinquent tax debt review public records determine notice lien filed employee applicant restrict access use information obtained act authorizes agency tax lien federal employee applicant federal employment discovered public record request employee applicant execute submit form authorizing department_of_the_treasury disclose agency head information describing employee applicant seriously delinquent tax debt willfully failed file required tax return tax liability request treasury disclose information authorized disclosed authorizes head agency personnel actions agency employee willfully failed file required tax return willfully federal tax liability requires office_of_personnel_management promulgate regulations carry act provide federal employees applicants employment process rights allow situation involving financial hardship employee seriously delinquent tax debt continue employment report congress annually number exemptions granted financial hardship grants federal employees applicants federal employment days demonstrate tax debts exempt classification seriously delinquent tax debt act sec makes act effective months enactment date


Summary:
Members of Congress Tax Accountability Act of 2015

Amends the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 to require Members of Congress to include in their annual financial disclosure reports the amount of any delinquent tax liability owed to the United States or any state or local government entity.

Requires the appropriate congressional ethics committee to open an inquiry immediately into the tax delinquency of that Member to determine: (1) his or her total delinquent tax liability and reason for such delinquency, (2) whether the Member has a plan to eliminate it, and (3) whether it has reflected poorly on Congress.

Requires such Member to arrange with the Secretary of the Senate or the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives, as appropriate, and the Internal Revenue Service to have an appropriate amount of his or her salary designated to pay the taxes owed to the United States within a reasonable time period.

members congress tax accountability_act amends ethics_in_government_act require members congress include annual financial disclosure reports delinquent tax liability owed united_states state local government entity requires appropriate congressional ethics committee open inquiry immediately tax delinquency member determine total delinquent tax liability reason delinquency member plan eliminate reflected congress requires member arrange secretary senate chief administrative officer house_of_representatives appropriate internal_revenue_service appropriate salary designated pay taxes owed united_states reasonable time period


Summary: Amends the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 to eliminate automatic pay adjustments for Members of Congress.

amends legislative reorganization act eliminate automatic pay adjustments members congress


Summary:
Federal Employee Accountability Act of 2015

Repeals provisions: (1) authorizing a federal employee representing an exclusive representative in the negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement official time for such purpose during the time such employee otherwise would be in a duty status; and (2) requiring the Federal Labor Relations Authority to determine whether any employee participating for, or on behalf of, a labor organization in any phase of proceedings before it shall be authorized official time for that purpose.

federal employee accountability_act repeals provisions authorizing federal employee representing exclusive representative negotiation collective bargaining agreement official time purpose time employee duty status requiring federal labor relations authority determine employee participating behalf labor organization phase proceedings shall authorized official time purpose


Summary:
White House Accountability Act of 2015

Rescinds the unobligated balance of funds made available for FY2015 for salaries and expenses of the White House.

white_house accountability_act rescinds unobligated balance funds available fy2015 salaries expenses white_house


Summary:
LEO Fair Retirement Act of 2015

 Provides that for purposes of computing the annuity of a federal law enforcement employee under the Civil Service Retirement System and the Federal Employees Retirement System, the law enforcement availability pay and administratively uncontrollable overtime pay earned by such employee in excess of limitations imposed on such pay shall be included in the average pay of such employee.

fair retirement act provides purposes computing annuity federal law enforcement employee civil_service_retirement_system federal_employees_retirement_system law enforcement availability pay administratively uncontrollable overtime pay earned employee excess limitations imposed pay shall included average pay employee


Summary:
Federal Transit Modernization Act of 2015

Repeals requirements that condition certain financial assistance for public transportation projects upon employee protective arrangements approved by the Secretary of Labor.

federal transit modernization act repeals requirements condition certain financial assistance public transportation projects employee protective arrangements approved secretary labor


Summary:
Presidential Allowance Modernization Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill revises provisions relating to presidential pensions to allow former Presidents a lifetime annual annuity of $200,000 and an additional annual monetary allowance of $200,000, each adjusted annually for cost-of-living increases as provided by the Social Security Act. It reduces the annual monetary allowance by the amount that a former President's adjusted gross income in a taxable year exceeds $400,000.

The bill prohibits the monetary allowance from being less than the amount that the General Services Administration and the U.S. Secret Service determine is needed to pay the increased cost of doing business that is attributable to the security needs of the former President.

The annuity and allowance shall not be payable for any period during which a former President holds an appointive or elective position in or under the federal government that pays more than a nominal rate.

The bill increases from $20,000 to $100,000 the annual annuity of a surviving spouse of a former President.

(Sec. 3) Nothing in this bill shall be construed to affect: (1) a law relating to the security or protection of a former President or a family member of a former President, or (2) funding to carry out such security or protection.

(Sec. 4) The bill applies to an individual who is a former President or the widow of a former President as of the date of enactment.

(Sec. 5) For a former President receiving a monetary allowance before the enactment of this bill, the reduction of the monetary allowance for adjusted gross income required by this bill applies, except to the extent that it would prevent the former President from being able to pay the cost of a lease or other contract that is in effect on the day before enactment of this bill and under which the former President makes payments using the monetary allowance.

presidential allowance modernization act sec bill revises provisions relating presidential pensions allow presidents lifetime annual annuity additional annual monetary allowance adjusted annually cost living increases provided social_security_act reduces annual monetary allowance president adjusted gross income taxable year exceeds bill prohibits monetary allowance general_services_administration secret_service determine needed pay increased cost business attributable security needs president annuity allowance shall payable period president holds elective position federal_government pays nominal rate bill increases annual annuity surviving spouse president sec bill shall construed affect law relating security protection president family member president funding carry security protection sec bill applies individual president widow president date enactment sec president receiving monetary allowance enactment bill reduction monetary allowance adjusted gross income required bill applies extent prevent president able pay cost lease contract effect day enactment bill president makes payments monetary allowance


Summary:
Federal Protective Service Parity Act of 2015

Includes Federal Protective Service (FPS) law enforcement officers within the Civil Service Retirement System and the Federal Employees Retirement System. Defines "Federal Protective Service law enforcement officer" as an FPS employee who holds a position within specified General Schedule job series and is authorized to carry firearms and empowered to make arrests related to the protection of buildings, grounds, and property owned by the federal government and persons on the property.

Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to determine and fix the maximum age limit for an original appointment to a position as an FPS officer. Establishes a minimum annuity amount for individuals serving as FPS officers on the effective date of this Act.

federal_protective_service parity act includes federal_protective_service law enforcement officers civil_service_retirement_system federal_employees_retirement_system defines federal_protective_service law enforcement officer employee holds position specified general_schedule job series authorized carry firearms empowered arrests related protection buildings grounds property owned federal_government persons property authorizes secretary homeland_security determine fix maximum age limit original appointment position officer establishes minimum annuity individuals serving officers effective date act


Summary:
Hold Congress Accountable Act

 Requires a reduction in the annual rate of pay of a Member of Congress during a government shutdown equal to the product of 1 day's worth of pay under such annual rate and the number of 24-hour periods during which the government shutdown is in effect. Makes such reduction applicable to days occurring after the date of the general election for federal office held in November 2016.

Requires any amount of pay of a Member of Congress in the 114th Congress that is reduced due to a government shutdown to be held in escrow until the last day of the 114th Congress and released for payment to Members at that time.

hold congress accountable act requires reduction annual rate pay member congress government shutdown equal product day worth pay annual rate number hour periods government shutdown effect makes reduction applicable days occurring date general election federal office held november requires pay member congress congress reduced government shutdown held escrow day congress released payment members time


Summary:
Government Spending Accountability Act of 2015 or the GSA Act of 2015

 Requires each federal agency to post on its public website detailed information on employee presentations at conferences, including: (1) the prepared text of any verbal presentation; and (2) any visual, digital, video, or audio materials presented, including photographs, slides, and audio-visual recordings.

Limits to $500,000 the amount that any agency may spend to support a single conference. Allows an agency head to waive such limitation for a specific conference after making a determination that a higher expenditure is justified as the most cost-effective option to achieve a compelling purpose.

Prohibits an agency from paying the travel expenses for more than 50 employees stationed in the United States to attend any international conference, unless the Secretary of State determines that attendance of more than 50 employees is in the national interest, or the agency head determines that the attendance of such employees is critical to the agency's mission.

Requires each agency to post on its public website quarterly reports on each conference costing more than $10,000 for which the agency paid travel expenses during the preceding three months.

Limits agency travel expenses for FY2016-FY2020 to 70% of the aggregate amount of such expenses for FY2010. Requires the Office of Management and Budget to establish guidelines for determining what expenses constitute travel expenses for purposes of the ceiling imposed on such expenses. Exempts from such limitation military travel expenses.

government spending accountability_act gsa act requires federal agency post public website detailed information employee presentations conferences including prepared text verbal presentation visual digital video audio materials presented including photographs audio visual recordings limits agency spend support single conference allows agency head waive limitation specific conference making determination higher expenditure justified cost effective option achieve compelling purpose prohibits agency paying travel expenses employees stationed united_states attend international conference secretary state determines attendance employees national interest agency head determines attendance employees critical agency mission requires agency post public website quarterly reports conference agency paid travel expenses preceding months limits agency travel expenses fy2016-fy2020 aggregate expenses fy2010 requires office_of_management_and_budget establish guidelines determining expenses constitute travel expenses purposes ceiling imposed expenses exempts limitation military travel expenses


Summary:
Defending Public Safety Employees' Retirement Act

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the exemption from the 10% penalty tax on early distributions from a government retirement plan for qualified public safety employees who have reached age 50, to expand the exemption to include specified federal law enforcement officers, customs and border protection officers, federal firefighters, and air traffic controllers who similarly have reached age 50.

The bill also eliminates the restriction that only distributions from governmental plans that are defined benefit plans qualify for the exemption, thus allowing an exemption of distributions from defined contribution plans and other types of governmental plans. Additionally, early distributions are not treated as a modification of substantially equal payments for purposes of determining an increase in the penalty tax.

The amendments made by this bill apply to distributions made after December 31, 2015.

(Sec. 3) The budgetary effects of this Act shall not be entered on either PAYGO scorecard maintained under the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010. TITLE I--TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY

Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015

 (Sec. 102) Declares the overall trade negotiating objectives of the United States with respect to any agreement with a foreign country to reduce or eliminate existing tariffs or nontariff barriers of that country or the United States that are unduly burdening and restricting U.S. trade. Includes among such objectives:

 more open, equitable, and reciprocal market access; the reduction or elimination of trade barriers and distortions that are directly related to trade and investment and that decrease market opportunities for U.S. exports or otherwise distort U.S. trade; stronger international trade and investment disciplines and procedures, including dispute settlement; enhanced U.S. competitiveness; protection of the environment; respect for worker and children rights consistent with International Labor Organization core labor standards; equal access of small businesses to international markets; and religious freedom. Declares the principal trade negotiating objectives of the United States with respect to:

 goods and services; agriculture; foreign investment; intellectual property; digital goods and services, as well as cross-border data flows; regulatory practices; state-owned and state-controlled enterprises; localization barriers to trade; labor and the environment; currency and foreign currency manipulation; the World Trade Organization (WTO) and multilateral trade agreements; trade institution transparency; anti-corruption; dispute settlement and enforcement; trade remedy laws; border taxes; textile negotiations; commercial partnerships, especially with Israel; and good governance, transparency, operation of legal regimes, and the rule of law of U.S. trading partners. Directs the President, in order to maintain U.S. competitiveness in the global economy, to engage in specified capacity building activities with respect to foreign countries that seek to enter into trade agreements with the United States.

(Sec. 103) Authorizes the President to enter into trade agreements with foreign countries for the reduction or elimination of tariff or nontariff barriers before July 1, 2018, or before July 1, 2021, if trade authorities procedures are extended to implementing bills (congressional approval) with respect to such agreements.

Authorizes the President to proclaim necessary or appropriate modifications or continuation of any existing duty, continuation of existing duty-free or excise treatment, or additional duties to carry out any such agreement.

(Sec. 104) Subjects trade agreements to congressional oversight and approval, consultations, and access to information requirements.

Requires the convening each Congress of the House and the Senate Advisory Groups on Negotiations to consult with and advise the United States Trade Representative (USTR) regarding the formulation of specific objectives, negotiating strategies and positions, the development of the applicable trade agreement, and compliance and enforcement of the negotiated commitments under the trade agreement.

Amends the Trade Act of 1974 to establish within the Office of the USTR the position of Chief Transparency Officer to consult with Congress on transparency policy, coordinate transparency in trade negotiations, engage and assist the public, and advise the USTR on transparency policy.

(Sec. 105) Specifies presidential notifications, consultations, reports, and other actions and their deadlines that must take place for any trade agreement to enter into force.

Specifies requirements for negotiations regarding agriculture, the fishing industry, and textiles.

(Sec. 106) Prescribes procedures for resolutions of disapproval in the House and the Senate before the President enters into any trade agreement.

Declares that trade authorities procedures shall not apply to any implementing bill submitted with respect to a trade agreement:

 if both chambers of Congress agree by a certain deadline to a procedural disapproval resolution for lack of notice or consultations, and with a country which does not fully comply and is not making significant efforts to comply with minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking ("tier 3" country). (Sec. 107) Prescribes requirements for the treatment of trade agreements entered into under the auspices of the WTO or with the Trans-Pacific Partnership countries or the European Union which result from negotiations commenced before enactment of this Act.

(Sec. 108) Declares that any provision of a trade agreement that is inconsistent with any U.S. laws shall be null and void.

(Sec. 109) Expresses the sense of Congress that the USTR should facilitate participation of small businesses in the trade negotiation process.

defending public safety employees retirement act sec bill amends_the_internal_revenue_code respect exemption penalty tax early distributions government retirement plan qualified public safety employees reached age expand exemption include specified federal law enforcement officers customs border_protection officers federal firefighters air traffic controllers similarly reached age bill eliminates restriction distributions governmental plans defined benefit plans qualify exemption allowing exemption distributions defined contribution plans types governmental plans additionally early distributions treated modification substantially equal payments purposes determining increase penalty tax amendments bill apply distributions december sec budgetary effects act shall entered paygo scorecard maintained statutory pay act title trade promotion authority bipartisan congressional trade priorities accountability_act sec declares overall trade negotiating objectives united_states respect agreement foreign country reduce eliminate existing tariffs nontariff barriers country united_states unduly restricting trade includes objectives open equitable reciprocal market access reduction elimination trade barriers directly related trade investment decrease market opportunities exports trade stronger international_trade investment disciplines procedures including dispute settlement enhanced competitiveness protection environment respect worker children rights consistent international labor organization core labor standards equal_access small businesses international markets religious freedom declares principal trade negotiating objectives united_states respect goods services agriculture foreign investment intellectual property digital_goods services cross border data flows regulatory practices state owned state controlled enterprises barriers trade labor environment currency foreign currency manipulation world_trade_organization wto multilateral trade agreements trade institution transparency anti corruption dispute settlement enforcement trade remedy laws border taxes textile negotiations commercial partnerships especially israel good governance transparency operation legal regimes rule law trading partners directs president order maintain competitiveness global economy engage specified capacity building activities respect foreign countries seek enter trade agreements united_states sec authorizes president enter trade agreements foreign countries reduction elimination tariff nontariff barriers july july trade authorities procedures extended implementing bills congressional approval respect agreements authorizes president proclaim necessary appropriate modifications continuation existing duty continuation existing duty free excise treatment additional duties carry agreement sec subjects trade agreements congressional oversight approval consultations access information requirements requires convening congress house senate advisory groups negotiations consult advise united_states_trade_representative ustr formulation specific objectives negotiating strategies positions development applicable trade agreement compliance enforcement negotiated commitments trade agreement amends trade act establish office ustr position chief transparency officer consult congress transparency policy coordinate transparency trade negotiations engage assist public advise ustr transparency policy sec specifies presidential notifications consultations reports actions deadlines place trade agreement enter force specifies requirements negotiations agriculture fishing industry textiles sec prescribes procedures resolutions disapproval house senate president enters trade agreement declares trade authorities procedures shall apply implementing bill submitted respect trade agreement chambers congress agree certain deadline procedural disapproval resolution lack notice consultations country fully comply making significant efforts comply minimum standards elimination human trafficking tier country sec prescribes requirements treatment trade agreements entered wto trans pacific partnership countries european_union result negotiations commenced enactment act sec declares provision trade agreement inconsistent laws shall null void sec expresses sense congress ustr facilitate participation small businesses trade negotiation process


Summary:
Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act

 Amends the definition of the term "law enforcement officer" under provisions of the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) to include: (1) federal employees not otherwise covered by such term whose duties include the investigation or apprehension of suspected or convicted individuals and who are authorized to carry a firearm, (2) such employees of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) whose duties are primarily the collection of delinquent taxes and the securing of delinquent returns, (3) an employee of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and (4) an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs who is a department police officer.

Requires such service that is performed by an incumbent law enforcement officer: (1) on or after enactment of this Act to be treated for all purposes other than retirement as service performed as a law enforcement officer; and (2) before enactment of this Act to be treated for federal retirement purposes as service performed as such an officer only if a written election is submitted to the Office of Personnel Management within five years after enactment of this Act or before separation from government service, whichever is earlier. Allows an incumbent who makes an election to be treated as a law enforcement officer to pay a deposit into the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund to cover prior service.

Provides that nothing under current law respecting mandatory separation from government service under CSRS or FERS shall cause the mandatory separation of an officer during the three-year period beginning on the enactment of this Act.

law enforcement officers equity act amends definition term law enforcement officer provisions federal_employees_retirement_system fers civil_service_retirement_system csrs include federal employees covered term duties include investigation apprehension suspected convicted individuals authorized carry firearm employees internal_revenue_service irs duties primarily collection delinquent taxes securing delinquent returns employee postal inspection service employee department_of_veterans_affairs department police officer requires service performed incumbent law enforcement officer enactment act treated purposes retirement service performed law enforcement officer enactment act treated federal retirement purposes service performed officer written election submitted office_of_personnel_management years enactment act separation government service whichever earlier allows incumbent makes election treated law enforcement officer pay deposit civil_service_retirement_and_disability_fund cover prior service provides current law respecting mandatory separation government service csrs fers shall cause mandatory separation officer year period beginning enactment act


Summary:
Furloughed Federal Employee Double Dip Elimination Act

 Requires regulations pertaining to the compensation of a federal employee who receives back pay for a period in which such employee was furloughed due to a lapse in appropriations to ensure that such back pay be treated in the same way as federal wages attributable to such employee and that the period to which such back pay relates be treated in the same way as a period of federal service attributable to such employee (thereby disqualifying such employee for receipt of state unemployment compensation).

federal employee double elimination act requires regulations pertaining compensation federal employee receives pay period employee lapse appropriations ensure pay treated way federal wages attributable employee period pay relates treated way period federal service attributable employee disqualifying employee receipt state unemployment compensation


Summary:
Bonuses for Cost-Cutters Act of 2016

(Sec. 2) This bill expands the cash awards program for disclosures by federal employees of fraud, waste, or mismanagement that result in cost savings to the employee's agency to include identification of surplus salaries and expenses funds that: (1) an agency employee identifies as unnecessary, (2) the inspector general and the chief financial officer of the agency determine are not required for the purpose for which the amounts were made available, and (3) the rescission of which would not be detrimental to the full execution of the purposes for which the amounts were made available.

Any savings resulting from such identifications must be deposited in the Treasury and used to reduce a budget deficit or the federal debt. But agencies may retain up to 10% of such savings for the purpose of paying cash awards to employees who identify surplus salaries and expenses funds.

Each fiscal year, agencies must submit reports to the Department of the Treasury regarding: (1) the total savings achieved through disclosures of possible fraud, waste, or mismanagement and identifications of surplus salaries and expenses funds by an employee; and (2) each disclosure that has merit and the number and amount of cash awards by the agency. This information must also be included in agency budget requests submitted to the Office of Management and Budget.

Treasury must report annually to Congress on federal cost saving and awards based on agency reports about such employee disclosures. The Office of Personnel Management must certify annually whether each agency's cash award program complies with this bill.

Every three years, the Government Accountability Office must report on the operation of the program and any recommendations for legislative improvements.

The bill prohibits the payment of awards to: (1) federal officers who serve in a position at level I of the Executive Schedule; (2) the head of an agency; or (3) a commissioner, board member, or other voting member of an independent establishment.

bonuses cost cutters act sec bill expands cash awards program disclosures federal employees fraud waste mismanagement result cost savings employee agency include identification surplus salaries expenses funds agency employee identifies unnecessary inspector_general chief financial officer agency determine required purpose amounts available rescission detrimental execution purposes amounts available savings resulting identifications deposited treasury reduce budget deficit federal debt agencies retain savings purpose paying cash awards employees identify surplus salaries expenses funds fiscal year agencies submit reports department_of_the_treasury total savings achieved disclosures possible fraud waste mismanagement identifications surplus salaries expenses funds employee disclosure merit number cash awards agency information included agency budget requests submitted office_of_management_and_budget treasury report annually congress federal cost saving awards based agency reports employee disclosures office_of_personnel_management certify annually agency cash award program complies bill years government_accountability_office report operation program recommendations legislative improvements bill prohibits payment awards federal officers serve position level executive schedule head agency commissioner board member voting member independent establishment


Summary:
Protecting Our Children Act

 Amends the Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988 to exempt from its prohibition against lie detector use the employers of prospective employees who care for or supervise or interact with unsupervised children on a frequent basis.

Requires such prospective employees to be given reasonable written notice of the date, time, and location of the polygraph test and of their right to consult with legal counsel or an employee representative before each phase of the test.

protecting children act amends employee polygraph protection act exempt prohibition lie detector use employers prospective employees care supervise interact unsupervised children frequent basis requires prospective employees given reasonable written notice date time location polygraph test right consult legal counsel employee representative phase test


Summary:
Federal Employee Short-Term Disability Insurance Act of 2015

Requires the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to establish and administer a program for short-term (i.e., up to 12 months) disability insurance coverage for federal employees for: (1) an injury or disability that is not work related, (2) leave to care for a family member, and (3) leave to make arrangements to become a foster parent or to adopt a child. Disqualifies an employee for such insurance if an injury or disability is caused by willful misconduct, a self-inflicted injury, or intoxication.

Requires the Director to contract with one or more insurance carriers for disability insurance coverage plans, without regard to competitive bidding requirements. Requires such plans to contain a detailed statement of benefits offered, the premiums charged, and the duration of the enrollment period.

Authorizes the Director to prescribe reasonable minimum standards for benefits offered by such plans, including a prohibition against excluding or penalizing an employee for a preexisting condition.

Requires individuals eligible for coverage under a disability insurance plan to be responsible for 100% of the premiums for the coverage offered.

Establishes in the Employees' Life Insurance Fund a Non-Work Related Disability Insurance Administrative Account, which shall be available to OPM to defray reasonable expenses incurred in administering this Act and to which contracted carriers shall make contributions necessary to cover such expenses.

federal employee short term disability_insurance act requires director office_of_personnel_management opm establish administer program short term months disability_insurance coverage federal employees injury disability work related leave care family member leave arrangements foster parent adopt child disqualifies employee insurance injury disability caused willful misconduct self injury requires director contract insurance carriers disability_insurance coverage plans regard competitive bidding requirements requires plans contain detailed statement benefits offered premiums charged duration enrollment period authorizes director prescribe reasonable minimum standards benefits offered plans including prohibition excluding penalizing employee preexisting condition requires individuals eligible coverage disability_insurance plan responsible premiums coverage offered establishes employees life insurance fund non work related disability_insurance administrative account shall available opm defray reasonable expenses incurred administering act contracted carriers shall contributions necessary cover expenses


Summary: Requires that all civilian employees of military installations which are not located within the same pay locality and which are reorganized or associated as a single joint installation receive uniform locality pay at the percentage payable with respect to the locality then receiving the highest locality pay.

requires civilian employees military installations located pay locality reorganized associated single joint installation receive uniform locality pay percentage payable respect locality receiving highest locality pay


Summary:
Citizen Empowerment Act of 2015

Requires any executive agency employee who is conducting an in-person or a telephonic interview, audit, investigation, inspection, or other official interaction with an individual relating to a possible violation of federal law that could result in the imposition of civil or criminal fines or penalties or the collection of unpaid tax to allow such individual to make an audio recording of the interaction.

Permits the employee conducting the interaction to record it if the employee: (1) informs the individual of the recording prior to or at the initiation of the interaction, and (2) provides the individual with a transcript of the recording at such individual's expense.

Requires the employee conducting an initial in-person or telephonic interview or other interaction to provide to the individual a verbal or written notice of such individual's rights.

Exempts from the application of this Act any in-person or telephonic interview or other interaction that: (1) is likely to include the discussion of classified material or information that would endanger public safety if released publicly; or (2) if released, would endanger an ongoing criminal investigation being conducted by a federal law enforcement officer.

citizen empowerment act requires executive agency employee conducting person telephonic interview audit investigation inspection official interaction individual relating possible violation federal law result imposition civil criminal fines penalties collection unpaid tax allow individual audio recording interaction permits employee conducting interaction record employee informs individual recording prior initiation interaction provides individual transcript recording individual expense requires employee conducting initial person telephonic interview interaction provide individual verbal written notice individual rights exempts application act person telephonic interview interaction likely include discussion classified material information endanger public safety released publicly released endanger ongoing criminal investigation conducted federal law enforcement officer