Friday Morning Federal Newsstand

Written by Ruben Gomez
Edited by Suzanne Kubota

This morning’s federal news as heard on WFED:

After months of anticipation in the federal space, The White House has launched Data.gov. That’s a web site designed to deliver on the president’s promise of transparency and open government. But will it meet the challenge? The site links up with 26 agencies, and the administration wants to put up about 240,000 data sets in several topic areas over the next month.

The Senate has passed a $91.3 billion war spending bill that would fund stepped-up military operations in Afghanistan. But it denies money to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay. The sweeping legislation also provides the International Monetary Fund with a new 100-billion dollar credit line and makes available 1.5 billion to fight a potential flu epidemic. The bill had overwhelming support in the Senate. It passed 86 to 3.

Congress is working on a pair of bills that would grant domestic partner benefits to gay and lesbian federal employees. The bills were unveiled in the House and Senate by a bipartisan group of lawmakers. If passed and signed into law, same-sex partners would get the same health and retirement benefits as the spouses of heterosexual workers. According to Government Executive, supporters say it would make federal service more attractive and help with recruiting.

Small businesses are receiving one in 10 contracts made possible by the Recovery Act. And small business advocates say that number needs to climb. Maine Senator Olympia Snow would like to see it closer to 20-percent. Her comments came in yesterday’s Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee hearing. Earlier this week, Snowe and Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu sent letters to the nation’s governors asking them to use part of their stimulus money for small business contracting.

Other Stories We’re Following

Agencies rate low on family-friendly cultures (FCW)

Unions to Use TSA Rankings to Try to Gain Collective-Bargaining Rights (WashingtonPost)

Lawmakers unveil bipartisan domestic partner benefits bills (GovExec)

In the Loop: A Gay Pride Party at the Baghdad Embassy (WashingtonPost)

Two-year funding for VA appears likely (FederalTimes)

Obama to address US Naval Academy graduates

U.S. defense chief lauds soldier in pink boxers (Reuters)

And Finally…

National Moment of Remembrance On Memorial Day

From the National Park Service:

Monday is Memorial Day, and Congress has asked that Americans stop what they’re doing and take time out to observe a National Moment of Remembrance in mid afternoon.

At 3 p.m., local time, Americans are asked to pause for one minute in an act of national unity. The time 3 p.m. was chosen because it is considered the time when most Americans are enjoying their freedoms on the national holiday.

The National Moment of Remembrance, established by Congress, does not replace traditional Memorial Day events; rather it is an act of national unity in which all Americans, alone or with family and friends, honor those who died for our freedom. It will help to reclaim Memorial Day as the sacred and noble holiday it was meant to be. In this shared remembrance, we connect as Americans.

During this Moment of Remembrance, 200 Amtrak trains will blast their whistles, approximately 500,000 Major League Baseball fans will remain silent, and countless other participants will make a vow to remember.

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