1/14/11: On Monday, January 10, NTEU legislative leaders from Union chapters across the country, including Chapter 293 Legislative Committee Co-Chair Cate Whiting from SEC Headquarters, met to discuss NTEU’s legislative program and legislative agenda for the 2011 National Legislative Conference. This NTEU Legislative Advisory Committee met with NTEU National President Colleen Kelley to make their recommendations -- which this year included a priority item for SEC employees.

During NTEU's Legislative Conference, which will occur in late February, hundreds of Union members from across the country will come to Washington and personally meet with their congressional representatives on the Union's priority issues. The issues that the Legislative Advisory Committee select will be presented to almost every member of Congress and their staff during this important conference.

After an interesting and collaborative session -- and after hearing compelling arguments from Cate Whiting -- the Committee voted to include implementation of Dodd-Frank and its impact on agencies such as the SEC as one of six priority issues for the Legislative Conference. This is the first time that a specific SEC issue has been included in the agenda for all NTEU-represented federal employees to present to Congress, and a key victory for SEC employees in a critical year on the Hill.

"I was pleased to be part of the process and to have gained recognition for a key issue for Commission employees," Whiting noted earlier this week. Pleased indeed! Please join Chapter 293 leadership in thanking Cate Whiting for doing such a tremendous job in securing this victory for her fellow employees.

The final six issues that were selected by the Legislative Advisory Committee as priorities for the 2011 Legislative Conference were:

• Impact of the Financial Regulatory Reform on NTEU represented agencies.
• Agency funding, including staffing for SEC, CBP, IRS, FDA, and other NTEU-represented agencies;
• Pay and Potential Furlough;
• Retirement Issues;
• Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHBP) and Health Issues; and
• Collective Bargaining Rights for TSA.

The Legislative Advisory Committee also raised other vital issues which President Kelley and the Legislation Department will continue to address before Congress.