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Treasury-Postal Spending Bill Sent to President

On October 12, the Senate approved, 58-37, the conference report for the FY2001 Legislative Branch appropriations bill (H.R. 4516), which contains the FY2001 Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government appropriations bill (H.R. 4871). Several weeks ago, the Senate defeated the “mini omnibus” because of concerns about the procedural maneuver by which the spending package was brought to the Senate floor (see The Source, 9/22/00, p. 1). The House approved the package on September 8 (see The Source, 9/15/00, p. 1). The measure will be sent to the President, who is expected to sign it into law.

The final Treasury-Postal Service conference report contained in H.R. 4516 retains current law with respect to contraceptive coverage and abortion coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

The final measure retains current law with respect to a federal child care program that allows agencies to use administrative funds to help low-income employees pay for child care expenses. The bill also retains current law by allowing women to breastfeed on federal property.

Additionally, the bill would require all workers in federal child care facilities to undergo criminal background checks. Also, the Office of Personnel Management would be required to conduct a study on ways in which federal employees could be provided with six weeks of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child.