House News

• The House Subcommitee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia, which has responsibility for FEHB Program oversight, held a hearing today on a bill (HR 3799) introduced by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D NY) that would provide federal employees with eight weeks of full pay and benefits for leave taken for the birth or adoption of a child. Subcommittee chairman Danny Davis (D Ill.) announced his support for the bill. He also stated that he is introducing a bill that would increase the maximum age for FEHB Program dependent coverage from 22 to 25.
  
• Yesterday, the House passed its version of the mental health parity bill (HR 1424) as anticipated. The vote was 268 to 148 with 47 Republicans supporting the bill and 3 Democrats opposed it. The legislation now moves to a conference committee. Interestingly, the House tagged onto this bill its genetic non-discrimination bill which has been bottled up in the Senate. The White House favors the Senate bill.