157. Memorandum From the Director of the Office of Civil Service Career Development and Assignments (Bourbon) to the Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Personnel (Barnes)1

SUBJECT

  • Status of FPMP

The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 was approved by the Senate last night by a vote of 87–1.

The Senate added a number of provisions as amendments to the Administration proposals. These included:

  • 1. Strengthening the section on “whistleblowers”, by providing anonymity to persons seeking to expose wrongdoing;
  • 2. Limiting the combined military pension and salary available to retired military to $47,500;
  • 3. Giving the Merit Systems Protection Board authority to overturn policies adopted by the Office of Personnel Management;
  • 4. Deleting the Administration proposals relating to Veterans’ Preference;
  • 5. Placing a numeric floor or minimum on the number of career reserved positions to be included in the Senior Executive Service. This number would be equal to the current number of career supergrades.

Senator Pell introduced, and secured approval of, an amendment that removes FSOs from the coverage of the bill. In the opinion of Sally [Page 610] Greenberg at CSC, the amendment also probably excludes FSIOs, but does not exclude FSRs and FSRUs.

It is still anticipated that the House will take up the measure during Labor Day week.

  1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Records of the Under Secretary for Management (M), 1978–1979, Box 2, Chron August 24–25, 1978. No classification marking. Printed from an unsigned copy.