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Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jan 9, 2003
Federal Workforce Flexibility Act of 2003 - Amends Federal employment law to: (1) strike a provision excepting as a Federal agency position any position in the Drug Enforcement Administration which is excluded from competitive service requirements; (2) authorize the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to modify employee demonstration projects; (3) remove the requirement that OPM develop a plan for each project; and (4) terminate projects after ten (currently five) years, while requiring OPM to recommend, during the project's first five years, whether it should be made permanent.Amends Federal employee recruitment and retention provisions to: (1) provide a four-year maximum on the years required of an employee provided a recruitment bonus; (2) authorize a recruitment or retention bonus of up to 50 percent of an employee's annual salary in the case of a critical agency need; (3) require OPM to establish a plan for paying such bonuses; and (4) rename the retention allowance the retention bonus and make such bonus contingent upon the completion of a period of service to be determined.Empowers OPM (currently, only at the request of an agency) to fix the rates of critical pay.Requires part-time service performed before April 7, 1986, to be credited as full-time service for annuity determination purposes.Empowers OPM (currently the President) to provide special locality pay rates. Requires an agency head to notify OPM of any categories of employees that would not be covered under such rates. Requires a pay rate conversion for employees moving to a different locality. Considers the locality pay rate as basic pay for purposes of Federal benefits. Determines the rates of pay for employees entitled to pay retention.Requires each agency head to evaluate its agency training with respect to success in accomplishing performance plans and strategic goals, appoint a training officer, and establish a comprehensive management succession program.Authorizes annual leave for qualified non-Federal service of newly hired Federal employees.
People & committees
Sen. Voinovich, George V. [R-OH] · R–OH
Legislative record
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Became Public Law No: 108-411.
Became Public Law No: 108-411.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Senate agreed to House amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S11263-11267; text as Senate agreed to House amendment: CR S11264-11267)
Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to House amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S11263-11267; text as Senate agreed to House amendment: CR S11264-11267)
Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8259-8263)
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8259-8263)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 129.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8259-8264)
Mr. Davis, Tom moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 454.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Government Reform. H. Rept. 108-733.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Government Reform. H. Rept. 108-733.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Civil Service and Agency Organization.
Referred to the House Committee on Government Reform.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Received in the House.
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S4068-4070)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S4068-4070)
The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent.
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S4062-4070; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S4062-4068)
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 428.
Committee on Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Collins with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 108-223.
Committee on Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Collins with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 108-223.
Committee on Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Committee on Governmental Affairs referred to Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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Analyze S.129 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
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