5/12/10: Late last week, HR 1722, the Telework Improvements Act, a bipartisan bill sponsored by Representatives John Sarbanes (D-MD), Frank Wolf (R-VA), and Gerry Connolly (D-VA), was blocked from passage on the House floor due to obstruction by the Republican Study Committee. This bill, which largely follows recommendations NTEU has made in congressional testimony, was passed by the appropriate House subcommittee and full committee with unanimous support from both Democrats and Republicans.

During Committee consideration, members of Congress from both parties described the bill as one with multiple wins. It saved money for federal taxpayers by allowing agencies to reduce office space costs and improve productivity. Local taxpayers save money by curbing costs for road construction and commuting costs. Federal employees who prefer to live in rural or suburban areas could still benefit from federal employment without suffering long, daily commutes to federal offices in urban centers.

Based on the widespread and bipartisan support, House leaders proposed quick passage under suspension of the rules. This procedure, used for noncontroversial matters, requires a 2/3rds vote. However, at the last minute, the House Republican Study Committee launched an attack on the bill and urged its followers to vote no. The vote was 268-147, less than the 2/3rds needed for passage. Among those voting against was Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA), the Ranking Republican Member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and a leading supporter of the bill during Committee consideration.

This action should only be a momentary setback as NTEU works for enactment of this bill. We are working with the Senate for a floor vote on their bill in the coming weeks. The House could either revisit their bill under the regular rules, passing it with a simple majority, or take up the Senate bill by a simple majority vote after it passes the Senate.