DoD’s Civilian Personnel Policy Office is sponsoring the “Leap Into Fall” campaign, which began Aug. 16, Kathleen Ott, acting deputy undersecretary of defense for the office, said during a recent interview.

“We consider this part of readiness,” she said. “We want our employees to be fit and be productive. If we pay attention to our employees and their needs, it makes us a better employer, better able to recruit and retain employees, and retain our reputation as a model employer.”

The office started the “Leap Into Fall” challenge to urge people to get moving, Ott said. The challenge supports first lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign for children, and the goal is for employees to record 1.5 million hours of physical activity over the 10-week period, she said.

Employees can compete either as individuals or part of a team. Physical activity does not have to be strenuous; it can include walking, biking, gardening, or golfing – “anything that gets you up and moving,” Ott said.

Employees can use The President’s Challenge Website to record their hours of physical activity. The top three individuals and top three teams will be recognized on the civilian personnel management office’s website, Ott said. More than 5,000 employees have logged onto the site so far, some from as far away as Afghanistan, she said.

Related posts:

1. DHS Announces Community-Based Law Enforcement Efforts Department of Homeland Security yesterday announced a series of initiatives...
2. Napolitano Announces Steps to Boost Southwest Border Efforts Working with federal, state, local, tribal and Mexican partners, the...
3. Pentagon Unveils New Widget to Spread the News The Pentagon Channel has unveiled its latest new-media tool, which...

The House voted 247 to 161 for the bill that will provide $16.1 billion in additional Medicaid money and $10 billion to prevent layoffs of teachers to states that have been hard-hit by the recession.

“We have an opportunity to create jobs,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. “At the press of a button, each of us will play a role in creating over 300,000 jobs, saving over 300,000 jobs across the country. Their jobs—these people are consumers. It’s important to our economy that they are employed.”

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the bill reduces the deficit by $1.4 billion.

“This is really important legislation also because of the way it is paid for,” Pelosi added. “I am not happy about the taking money from our energy sector or from food stamps, but I hope that we can, Mr. Chairman, make that up in another way. I am very pleased about the funds that are obtained by repealing the provision to send jobs offshore. This legislation is fiscally responsible and fully paid for. It invests in American’s communities, again by closing that tax loophole that allows corporations to ship jobs overseas.”

Related posts:

1. $30 Billion Small-Business Lending Bill Passes through House The U.S. House approved a small-business lending program, which would...
2. TSA Funds Enhance Security and Create Jobs In an effort to strengthen the Transportation Security Administration’s security...
3. More Green Jobs & More Clean-Energy Clean-energy investments can help America in more ways that one....

Census Bureau

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today it will be returning $1.6 billion in its 2010 Census operations costs.

The savings represent 22 percent of 2010 Census costs this fiscal year.

“This is a significant accomplishment, and I would like to thank the American public for responding to the census and the more than 255,000 private and public sector partners who joined with us in making the 2010 Census a success,” Census Bureau Director Robert Groves said.

Census reported $650 million in savings resulted from 72 percent of households returned the questionnaire by mail, therefore reducing costs by the lack of need for follow up. Because there was a large percentage of participation, labor costs were also lower from a reduction in door-to-door interviews.

Along with the savings from household participation, approximately $800 million of the savings is due to the fact Census did not have to dip into its emergency fund set aside for natural disasters or operational breakdowns during the survey operations.

The additional $150 million in savings came in at a lower cost from improvement in internal operations. This allowed for the force to complete assignments more efficiently.

“The 2010 Census was a massive undertaking with great risk for operational problems and cost overruns,” U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said. “But with the leadership of Dr. Groves and his team at the Census Bureau, we had an incredibly successful count that came in on time and well under budget.”

“The Census management team, along with a dedicated census workforce, worked diligently to ensure we keep the census on track and on schedule while being vigilant with taxpayer dollars,” Groves said. “Early data are showing improvements in the quality of the field work even as we achieved these savings. We will remain focused until all 2010 Census operations are completed.”

Related posts:

1. Round Two of Census Forms Being Mailed Out The U.S. Census Bureau has begun mailing a second round...
2. Census Bureau Launches Google Maps to Track Census Count The Census Bureau will launch new interactive Google Maps showing...
3. Administration Reports $8B in Medicare Savings According to a report the Obama administration is scheduled to...

Travelers will be charged a $14 fee when applying for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization. A portion of the fee will go toward funding the Corporation for Travel Promotion, created by the 2009 Travel Promotion Act.

The global marketing and promotion campaign will begin Sept. 8, 2010 in hopes of increasing international visitors to the United States to spur economic growth and create employment opportunities.

“This is an important milestone in the implementation of the Travel Promotion Act,” Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said. “Creating a tourism promotion program to encourage international visitors to vacation in America will help spur economic growth and create more jobs.”

Travel and tourism totals $120 billion and supports more than one million American jobs. Overseas visitors spend an average of $4,000 per person, per trip in the United States.

The new program is estimated to generate around $4 billion and 40,000 new jobs. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the program will reduce the federal budget deficit by $425 million in the next 10 years.

Locke will appoint the board of directors for the Corporation for Travel Promotion, as explained in a statement.

Related posts:

1. Visa Waiver Program to be Updated, Streamlined Millions of visitors come to the United States every year....
2. $30 Billion Small-Business Lending Bill Passes through House The U.S. House approved a small-business lending program, which would...
3. More Green Jobs & More Clean-Energy Clean-energy investments can help America in more ways that one....

The rules, which will take effect Oct. 27, 2010, will require companies that sell debt-relief services over the telephone to no longer charge a fee before they settle or reduce a customer’s credit-card, or other unsecured, debt.

“At the FTC, we strive every day to make sure America’s middle-class families get straight deals for their dollars,” Leibowitz said. “This rule will stop companies who offer consumers false promises of reducing credit-card debts by half or more in exchange for large, up-front fees. Too many of these companies pick the last dollar out of consumers’ pockets – and far from leaving them better off, push them deeper into debt, even bankruptcy.”

According to FTC, the rules specify the companies cannot collect fees until the debt-relief service successfully renegotiates, settles, reduces, or otherwise changes the terms of at least one of the consumer’s debts, there is a written settlement agreement between the consumer and the creditor and the consumer has made at least one payment to the creditor as a result of the agreement negotiated by the debt-relief provider.

Related posts:

1. FTC Stops International Credit-Card Scheme A federal court has put a stop to a sophisticated...
2. Mullen: National Debt is a Security Threat The national debt is the single biggest threat to national...
3. ONC Issues Final Rule on Certification Program The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology...

The Obama administration report states the healthcare reform will strengthen Medicare, as opposed to Republicans’ concerns that spending cuts will undermine the system, and will lower seniors’ monthly premiums by nearly $200 annually over the next eight years.

“The passage of the Affordable Care Act marks a turning point in the unsustainable rate of cost growth in our healthcare system,” The Associated Press reported on an advanced copy of the report. The new law “reforms the Medicare program’s payment and delivery systems to incentivize high-quality care, appropriately price services, modernize the health care sector and fight waste, fraud and abuse.”

The report states the savings are to come from reductions in projected payment increases to hospitals and other providers, cuts to private insurance plans and efforts to improve quality and combat fraud.

The Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will hold a teleconference today to discuss the report.

Related posts:

1. Census Reports $1.6 Billion in 2010 Savings The U.S. Census Bureau announced today it will be returning...
2. Obama Holds Tele-Town Hall Meeting to Promote Healthcare Reform to Elderly President Barack Obama held a televised town hall meeting to...
3. President to Use Recess Appointment to Install Medicare Leader President Barack Obama is scheduled today to make Dr. Donald...

OpenCongress

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued today its final regulations of the rules for the Pre-Existing Conditions Insurance Plan, a temporary plan designed to cover uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions until 2014.

The regulation describes the options for determining who has a pre-existing condition, how to verify citizenship, how an individual can appeal a PCIP decision and how federal funding will be allocated.

“In 2014, discriminating against anyone with a pre-existing condition will be illegal, but we know Americans need relief now,” said Head of the White House Office of Health Reform Nancy-Ann DeParle. “That’s why the new law created the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan.”

The plan is available to those who have been uninsured for six months and unable to obtain health coverage because of a pre-existing health condition. Some of the benefits include hospitalization, outpatient care, maternity care, hospice and home health care.

The regulation also describes ways to prevent already-insured people getting placed into the program and strategies for preventing fraud.

“Every day, the Affordable Care Act is making it easier for Americans to take control of their health care by giving them easier access to better health coverage choices,” DeParle said. “The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan helps meet that goal.”

Related posts:

1. HHS Unveils Insurance-Finder Widget The Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday announced...
2. HHS Grants $46M to States to Crack Down on Unreasonable Health Insurance Premium Hikes Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius yesterday...
3. Obama Announces Patients’ Bill of Rights President Barack Obama unveiled new regulations under the Affordable Health...

The bill passed with a vote of 59-39 and will restore unemployment insurance benefits to 2.5 million people who lost their benefits during a fight over whether to add the $34 billion cost to the federal deficit. It also extends the filing deadline for extended unemployment insurance benefits until Nov. 30, 2010.

“Tonight, the United States Senate finally overcame weeks of parliamentary roadblocks by a partisan minority,” President Barack Obama said in a statement on Wednesday, “and voted to restore desperately needed unemployment insurance assistance to two and a half million Americans who lost their jobs in the recession.”

“Americans who are working day and night to get back on their feet and support their families in these tough economic times deserve more than obstruction and partisan game-playing that happens too often here in Washington,” Obama said. “I thank the members of the Senate who stood on the side of these working families today, and urge members of the House to pass this extension so I can quickly sign it into law.”

Related posts:

1. House Passes Historic Healthcare Bill On a vote of 220 to 212, the House of...
2. The Department of Education Responds to Healthcare Bill Healthcare reform is now a reality. The Department of Education...
3. Healthcare Bill One Step Closer to Law Early this morning, Senate passed a crucial step toward final...

Timothy Grant/FFF

U.S. Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry and agency and Congressional leaders will be participating in the “Feds Feed Families” food drive this afternoon at the Frederick Douglass Community Center in Anacostia, Washington, D.C.

The federal leaders will be promoting nutrition, literacy and fitness with the young people at the center in hopes of encouraging an overall healthy lifestyle. They will be distributing snacks and will invite attendees to participate in educational and physical activities.

According to a statement, “This is an opportunity for government leaders to visit with the members of the communities that benefit the most from FFF contributions—the children.”

The efforts are part of FFF’s campaign to generate 1.2 million pounds of nonperishable food items and other essentials nationwide following a shortage of supplies in food banks across the National Capital Region, as well as the nation.

According to the statement, the Capital Area Food Bank has partnered with the Frederick Douglass Community Center for seven years. During the school year, the center is open to about 20 children who receive computer training, homework instruction, and a hot meal provided by the food bank’s Kids Cafe program five days a week. During the summer months, the center runs a six week camp where 25 children receive breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack each day. These children are also able to participate in enrichment activities and excursions around the District

Berry and agency and Congressional leaders are taking part in this organization to ensure the federal government has an effective civilian workforce and is hoping to improve public lifestyle.

Related posts:

1. Leaders Need to be Smart about Interacting with the Media, Says Gates In the aftermath of the Rolling Stone magazine article that...
2. OPM’s New Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey The Office of Personnel Management is planning on increasing the...
3. U.S. Congress Comes to Agreement on Financial Reform Bill House and Senate lawmakers reached an agreement today on the...

Carolyn Kaster/AP

The largest financial regulation overhaul in generations made its way through Congress yesterday after Senate approved it and sent it to the desk of President Barack Obama.

After almost a year of debating over its new rules, the bill passed with a vote of 60-39 vote and proves to be a huge victory for Obama after his promise of a change following the collapse of the financial system.

“Because of this reform, the American people will never again be asked to foot the bill for Wall Street’s mistakes,” said Obama in a conference following the bill’s passing. “There will be no more taxpayer-funded bailouts — period. If a large financial institution should ever fail, this reform gives us the ability to wind it down without endangering the broader economy. And there will be new rules to end the perception that any firm is “too big to fail,” so that we don’t have another Lehman Brothers or AIG.”

The president credited the efforts of Chairman Chris Dodd, Congressman Chairman Barney Frank, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi for the bill’s creation and passing of Congress.

“I am extraordinarily grateful for their determination in the face of a massive lobbying effort from the financial industry, and I’m also grateful for all of the members of Congress who stood on the side of reform — including three Republican senators who put politics and partisanship aside today to vote for this bill,” he said.

The bill will have an impact on almost every corner of the financial world and will add regulators to keep an eye on future financial problems, put regulations into place that to slow down some of the risky practices that pushed the United States down a path of financial depression and institute a consumer protection bureau designed to protect consumers from predatory lenders.

“Along with the steps we’re taking to spur innovation, encourage hiring and rein in our deficits, this is how we’re ultimately going to build an economy that is stronger and more prosperous than it was before, and one that provides opportunity for all Americans,” the president said.

While the changes will take several years, the first big event to take place is the immediate creation of the Federal Insurance Office.

The president is scheduled to sign the legislation next week.

Related posts:

1. U.S. Congress Comes to Agreement on Financial Reform Bill House and Senate lawmakers reached an agreement today on the...
2. $30 Billion Small-Business Lending Bill Passes through House The U.S. House approved a small-business lending program, which would...
3. House Passes Historic Healthcare Bill On a vote of 220 to 212, the House of...