The Defense Department could offer buyouts to its employees for two additional years, under the Senate-passed version of the fiscal 2000 Defense authorization bill.
The bill, which the Senate passed Thursday on a 92-3 vote, would extend the Pentagon's authority to offer employees up to $25,000 to retire until Sept. 30, 2003. The buyout authority is currently set to expire on Sept. 30, 2001.
The Senate bill also would repeal the law that reduces retirement pay for retired military officers who work as civilians for the federal government. About 6,000 military retirees are affected by the law and lose an average of $800 per month in benefits, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
The $288 billion bill adds $8.3 billion to President Clinton's budget request for DoD, including a higher military pay raise of 4.8 percent. Clinton requested only a 4.4 percent increase, and has signaled his opposition to the higher raise.
The House adjourned for its week-long Memorial Day recess before completing work on its version of the Defense authorization bill.
Additional provisions in the Senate bill include:
- Increasing security at the Metro entrance to the Pentagon.
- Improving dental insurance coverage for military retirees.
- Easing cost accounting standards for federal contracts.
- Strengthening competition for orders under multiple-award contracts.
- Tightening security at Energy Department laboratories.
- Expanding private-sector competition with Federal Prison Industries for DoD business.