NASCOE Convention Cash Club Contest Begins

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The NASCOE Publicity Committee will award a $500 stipend to an eligible NASCOE member from each area to help defray the cost of attending the 60th Anniversary NASCOE convention in Manhattan, Kansas on July 31 through August 3, 2019. Applicants must submit a one-page essay of 500 words or less discussing the following topic:
 

“This year’s NASCOE convention theme is Denim and Diamonds. Please tell us how the theme applies to you and your involvement in NASCOE.”

Visit the NASCOE website to view the rules for the contest and to apply.  If you have any questions, please contact any member of the NASCOE Publicity Committee.

President Signs Appropriations Bill to Fund Government

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On Friday afternoon, President Trump signed the legislation to avert another government shutdown and ensures the entire federal government is funded through September 30.

The legislation covers seven appropriations bills:

  • Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies;
  • Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies;
  • Financial Services and General Government;
  • Homeland Security;
  • Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies;
  • State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs; and
  • Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.

The legislation, H.J. Res. 31, passed the Senate and House yesterday, February 14, 2019.

Photos of NASCOE Legislative Co-Chairs Donny Green and Neil Burnette

Government Funding Update – February 14, 2019

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FY19 Appropriations Bill Update

February 14, 2019

Hunter Moorhead, Legislative Consultant

The Homeland Security Conference Report (including all the other appropriations bills outstanding for FY 2019) passed the Senate 83-16, and passed the House 300-128 (with 4 not voting) late this evening.

President Trump has signaled that he will sign the bill before the February 15 deadline which will prevent another government shutdown.

NASCOE’s Legislative Team will continue to track the President’s action on the bill and will provide additional updates.

Government Funding Update from Hunter Moorhead, NASCOE Legislative Consultant

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The optimism at the end of last week about a deal on border security spending facilitating a compromise allowing completion of the FY 2019 appropriations process ran into a speedbump on Sunday.

After reportedly resolving the perceived lynchpin issue of border security funding – rumored to be $2 billion, a new issue of contention arose over the weekend. Reportedly, Democratic conferees on the Department of Homeland appropriations conference are insisting on a cap of 16,500 detention beds in the US.

Cynics paint this new matter as Democrats moving the goal post on the conference negotiations, others characterize it as House conferees reflecting the views of the new House Democratic majority, and still others describe it as a natural extension of Democrats’ concerns over the Trump Administration’s immigration policies, etc.

Senators Shelby and Leahy and Chairman Lowey and Ranking Member Granger are scheduled to meet at 3 pm today (2/11) to discuss the status of the conference negotiations and determine the path forward.

Reportedly, an additional weeklong CR is being prepared in case additional time is needed to conclude negotiations/passage of a final deal. None of the stakeholders want another shutdown.

Murmurings of a year-long CR for Homeland Security are also popping up around the Hill, but hopes are that the current negotiations will resolve this new matter and permit completion of the FY 2019 appropriations process.
NASCOE’s Legislative Team will continue to provide updates as this situation develops.

NASCOE Member Attends State of the Union Address as Special Guest – February 5, 2019

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Jesse Wegner, Iowa Association President

Jesse Wegner, National Association of FSA County Office Employees (NASCOE) member and President of the Iowa Association of Farm Service Agency County Office Employees (IASCOE), is attending the 2019 State of the Union Address tonight as special and honored guest of Iowa Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer.

Each member of Congress is allowed to invite one guest to the State of the Union Speech. It is a special privilege and opportunity to have one of our own members attend with Congresswoman Finkenauer while representing NASCOE.

This honorable invitation highlights the importance and success of NASCOE’s outreach initiative that benefits all of our members. We are proud of Jesse’s shining example of building relationships through our outreach initiatives.

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Representative Abby Finkenauer, Iowa pictured with her Special Guest for the 2019 State of the Union Address, Iowa-IASCOE President, Jesse Wegner. Jesse is the CED in Fayette County, Northeast Iowa.

Update on Legislation to Reopen Government

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Friday, January 25, 2019 — The House and Senate have now approved the continuing resolution funding the government through February 15.

The legislation will now head to the President’s desk for his signature. Earlier today the President announced the agreement to end the shutdown and stated he would sign the bill to open government for three weeks.

We realize that FSA employees are concerned about timelines for processing and receiving their back pay, and we expect that there will be guidance provided to all employees on Monday when they return to work. Our understanding is that payroll processing will be a priority and processed as quickly as possible.

BREAKING NEWS FOR NASCOE’s MEMBERSHIP

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We are hearing the White House is preparing to announce an agreement to temporarily end the shutdown. At this point, the House and Senate are expected to pass the proposal and send it directly to the President for his signature.

The rumor is a clean continuing resolution through February 15 or 28. This would allow President Trump to salvage a State of the Union appearance and allow federal workers to receive back pay.

NASCOE will be providing more details as we receive them.

NASCOE News Flash – January 24, 2019

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Dennis Ray, NASCOE President

On January 22, 2019 the National Office held a teleconference with all Employee Associations in an effort to update them on Agency furlough activities to date. 

The call also included Q&A’s. 

Attached to this NASCOE News Flash are teleconference notes from the “All Employee Association Furlough Teleconference”

NOTES: 
The notes are not official agency policy / directive, but rather taken from handwritten contemporaneous notes created by a participant on the reference call.

Many of the items in this document were covered with the NASCOE State Association President’s on the January 23, 2019 call with the NASCOE Officers.

If there are any questions regarding the topics contained in this document, please contact your state association President. They will refer your questions or concerns to the NASCOE Officers through your Area Executives.

Furlough All Employee Association Conference Call notes (PDF)

All-Employee-Association-Meeting-01-22-2019

NASCOE Congressional Contact Toolkit & NASCOE Positions on FSA Employees’ “Excepted On Call” Status

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Attached are two documents:

  1. “NASCOE Positions on FSA Employees’ ‘Excepted on Call” Status”
  2. NASCOE Guide for Contacting your Congressional Representatives

Since most FSA employees are out of the office today (Wednesday), we should use this opportunity to get busy making these congressional phone calls. 

DO NOT USE YOUR GOVERNMENT POSITION, GOVERNMENT TELEPHONE, GOVERNMENT COMPUTER, OR DO THIS FROM YOUR GOVERNMENT OFFICE. 

We realize that everyone is extremely concerned about getting paid for providing our services. This is an excellent opportunity for each member to take action to help NASCOE secure equitable and fair working conditions for our employees. 


Thank you,
Neil Burnette & Donny Green
NASCOE Legislative Committee Co-Chairpersons

NASCOE-Guide-for-contacting-your-Congressional-Representatives-v.012219FINAL

NASCOE-Position-Paper-on-FSA-Employees-Excepted-on-Call-Status-v.012219FINAL

NASCOE News Flash – January 20, 2019

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Dennis Ray, NASCOE President

Fellow NASCOE Members,

NASCOE leadership believes it is possible that all County Office Employees may be called back as “excepted” employees.  Excepted employees would be required to perform limited duties if approved by OMB and to work without pay until shutdown ends. The negative employee impacts that are the most concerning to NASCOE are the potential loss of unemployment benefits and the loss of the ability to utilize outside employment to make ends meet.

NASCOE fully understands that the negative impacts of the current agricultural economy are compounded by the additional loss of FSA benefits.  While NASCOE is sympathetic to the burdens our farmers face, NASCOE cannot support sacrificing the financial security of Farm Service Agency County Office Employees by subjecting them to a callback without pay.

As fellow employees, we are dealing with the same financial stress and fully understand the situations that employees are facing.  NASCOE is in constant communication with Administration leadership in an effort to discuss ways to minimize the impact on FSA employees.

NASCOE is deeply concerned that the callback could force some employees to leave the agency and force others to make the decision to retire. These actions will have a negative long-term impact on FSA’s ability to provide quality service to our producers when they need us the most. Trained, experienced and committed employees who leave the agency will not be easily replaced.

NASCOE has been very disappointed in the lack of clear direction and instructions from the very beginning of this historic furlough.  NASCOE has diligently made an effort to keep members up to date. Keep in mind this is not official notification.  As details continue to emerge, NASCOE will be sharing information with our membership as quickly as possible.  Please continue to look for email correspondence and website updates with the latest news from NASCOE.