WASHINGTON, DC – Today the House Armed Services Committee approved legislation that ensures national security personnel are treated fairly within the employment system. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH) introduced an amendment that prohibits new hires from being put into the NSPS system.
“We are pleased to see that Secretary Gates took our advice and halted conversions of General Schedule (GS) employees into the NSPS,” said Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO), “but we remain concerned that new hires are being placed into the system. This legislation will prevent any individuals from being added to the NSPS until we have an opportunity to analyze the recommendations of the DOD Task Force charged with reviewing the system.”
Representative Shea-Porter (D-NH) said, “Our national security personnel work tirelessly in support of our nation’s defense, and we owe them an employment system that treats them with the respect they deserve. NSPS has received increasingly negative reviews, and while I am happy that Secretary Gates has ordered a comprehensive review of the system, we must continue protecting workers until that review is complete. By prohibiting new hires from being placed into the NSPS, my amendment does just that.”
The amendment takes the following action:
- Prohibits new hires to be put into NSPS and prohibits any reclassification of positions to NSPS.
- Convert all employees back to GS system within one year of enactment, unless the Secretary of Defense notifies Congress of significant changes to NSPS.
- Restore the full annual nationwide adjustment.
- Place similar restrictions on the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS)
*** All provisions are subject to change pending final passage of H.R.2647 ***
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