Congress Sets Military Pay Raise, Punts on Civil Service

It also expanded eligibility for Tricare, the military health insurance program, to allow members of the Selected Reserve -- those who train regularly -- to buy into the program when they are not on active duty. The legislation also prohibits any increase in Tricare enrollment premiums and in pharmacy co-payments in fiscal 2007.

As part of the legislation, Congress ordered the Pentagon to prepare a strategic plan to improve Defense's senior management and technical workforce, including scientists and engineers "in light of recent trends and projected changes in the mission."

Congressional aides are interested in learning how the department makes use of its senior-level civilians. Like other departments, Defense has a graying workforce, with substantial numbers of retirements expected in the next few years, and could have difficulty offsetting the loss of experienced hands, especially in science and engineering.

House-Senate negotiators dropped a provision that would have expanded protections to federal employees who blow the whistle on waste, fraud and abuse. The White House opposed the provision, which was in the Senate's version of the bill.

Keeping Track of Homeland Security

Congress has asked the Department of Homeland Security to submit a spending plan for the troubled overhaul of its personnel system. In an unusual move, Congress directed the department to include a list of its contract obligations for the new system.

House-Senate negotiators on the fiscal 2007 appropriations bill for Homeland Security provided $25 million for the new system, MaxHR. The president's budget had sought about $42 million, but congressional aides said delays caused by court litigation mean the department can get along with less funding for the short term.

The spending bill will add 1,500 new Border Patrol officers, bringing that workforce to 14,800.

Stephen Barr's e-mail address isbarrs@washpost.com.