Domestic partner coverage hearing

OPM Director John Berry appeared on Capitol Hill today to support Sen. Joe Lieberman's bill (S. 1102) to extend FEHB Program coverage to the same sex domestic partners of federal employees. According to a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs press release,

[Director] Berry testified at the [HSGA Committee] hearing that the cost in 2010 would be about $56 million, just two-tenths of a percent of how much employee health insurance costs the entire federal government. Lieberman said at the
hearing that the cost is well worth the benefits that will accrue in recruiting
and retaining the best people to serve as federal employees.

Govexec.com reports that

Lieberman said the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee would
mark up the legislation in November with the goal of bringing it to the Senate
floor in December for action in 2010. In July, the House Oversight and
Government Reform Federal Workforce Subcommittee passed the bill by a 5-3 vote
and forwarded it to the full committee.