1. Greetings from AFSA President John Naland. Here is what we are working on at AFSA headquarters. Please send any comments to me at naland@afsa.org.

FUNDING FOR DIPLOMACY

2. We have very good news to report on AFSA's efforts to convince Congress to provide funding to expand Foreign Service staffing. The FY-08 Iraq Supplemental appropriation that appears poised to pass Congress in the near future contains $25 million to expand Foreign Service staffing this fiscal year. AFSA estimates that is enough to hire an additional 120 Foreign Service members. While we pushed for funding to hire three times that number, securing funds to add 120 positions marks the first significant staffing increase since 2004 (not counting earmarked security and consular positions).

3. This action by Congress makes a down payment toward meeting the increased staffing sought in the President's still-pending FY-09 budget request. While the FY-09 budget request provided strong justification for increased staffing, it was largely due to AFSA's early and persistent advocacy that Congress included the $25 million down-payment in the must-pass FY-08 Iraq Supplemental. Nearly ten months ago, we began making the case to key appropriators that the many Foreign Service positions that have been transferred to Iraq and Afghanistan had created unacceptable staffing gaps elsewhere in the world. We argued that backfilling those positions was an emergency need worthy of including in the Iraq and Afghanistan Supplemental. Sympathetic lawmakers agreed and inserted the funds.

4. The Supplemental also includes "bridge" funding to allow additional Foreign Service hiring this fall and winter even if the State Department's full FY-09 budget is delayed until the new Administration and new Congress take office in January. The Supplemental also includes significant additional funding for USAID operating expenses that are desperately needed. AFSA understands that some of that funding is meant to allow USAID to hire more Foreign Service staff.

OVERSEAS PAY GAP

5. We have potentially good news to report on AFSA's efforts to convince Congress to end the overseas pay gap. AFSA understands that the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) plans to bring the pay gap correction bill (H.R. 3202) up for a recorded vote in committee next month. The bill also enhances the death gratuity for Foreign Service members killed overseas. AFSA has worked hard for many months to get to this crucial first step in the legislative process. Many observers doubted that we could get the bill considered at all this year, so it will represent a major step forward if HFAC reports out the bill.

6. The bill, originally offered by Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ), currently has 23 cosponsors -- 11 of whom are on HFAC. AFSA has gone from office to office to build that support. Of course, to become law, the full House and Senate must also pass the bill and the President must sign it. While some observers doubt that those steps can be accomplished during this election-shortened legislative year, AFSA will try to keep key decision makers focused on the fact that the ever-widening pay gap must be fixed. We will keep you informed.

7. For background, see: Pay Gap Case Study < http://www.afsa.org/payEquity.pdf >, Pay Equity Q&A < http://www.afsa.org/OCP2008Jan.pdf >, Straight Talk on the Overseas Pay Gap < http://www.afsa.org/040908overseas.cfm >, Crossing the Rubicon on the Overseas Pay Gap < http://www.afsa.org/011108overseas.cfm >, and AFSA State VP Steve Kashkett's Overseas Pay Disparity: Debunking the Myths < http://www.afsa.org/fsj/may08/statevoice.pdf >.

PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION BRIEFING

8. AFSA met recently with a senior foreign policy advisor of one of the presidential candidates. Our 30 minute appointment stretched to 90 minutes as the advisor evidenced great interest in our comments on the resource and management needs of diplomacy and development assistance. Among the specific topic discussed were Foreign Service staffing and training needs, the overseas pay gap, and the coordination of development assistance. We did not discuss foreign policy, but instead focused on the resource needs of the overseas and domestic platforms which the next President will rely on to implement his foreign policy and development assistance. We left with a number of "taken questions" that we answered a few days later in a detailed written response. We agreed to meet again in September. (We are also seeking an appointment with a foreign policy advisor of the other candidate, but have not yet found reciprocal interest.)

FALLEN DIPLOMATS FUND

9. This week, I was delighted to present a check for $37,500 to Director General Harry K. Thomas, Jr. for the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund’s (FEEA) Diplomatic Fund to provide college scholarships to the seven young children who lost a diplomatic parent to terrorism between 1998 and 2003. Five of those children come from Foreign Service families. The ceremony took place in front of the AFSA Memorial Plaque with guests of honor Mr. Milton Green and his son Zach Green who are surviving family members of Barbara Green and her daughter Kristen Wormsley who were killed by terrorists in Islamabad, Pakistan on March 7, 2002.

10. AFSA's donation was matched dollar-for-dollar by FEEA, resulting in a total donation of $75,000. This donation increased the Diplomatic Fund balance to approximately $325,000, which is $425,000 short of the fundraising goal. If this fundraising goal is reached, then FEEA hopes to extend eligibility to children who lose a parent to terrorist acts while on diplomatic missions in the future. Sadly, such an ongoing fund will likely be necessary. These children have already lost a parent under circumstances that few Americans will ever face. They should not also lose the opportunity to attend the college of their choice.

11. Thus, AFSA encourages active duty and retired Foreign Service members to join us in donating to this extraordinarily worthy cause. Donations are also welcomed from groups such as Foreign Service retiree associations, A-100 and specialist orientation classes, Senior Seminar alumni groups, ad hoc groups at employees at post, private foundations, and other foreign affairs related organizations. All donations are tax deductible and will be matched dollar-for-dollar by FEEA, thus doubling the impact of each individual donation. For details on how to donate, see < http://www.afsa.org/062408afsanet.cfm >, < http://www.feea.org/ >, or State 068034 of June 25, 2008.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

12. I am pleased to join with Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Bill Burns in co-sponsoring the Foreign Affairs Professional Reading List as described in State 065005 of June 17, 2008. Our initiative oversaw the compilation of useful books and websites to serve as a resource for the career-long, self-directed professional development for Foreign Service and Civil Service employees of the foreign affairs agencies. That reading list is online on AFSA's website at < http://www.afsa.org/readinglist.cfm > and the State Department's intranet at
< http://diplopedia.state.gov/index.php?title=Foreign_Affairs_Professional_Reading_List >.

13. The second part of this initiative consists of an invitation for supervisors with mentorship responsibilities at overseas posts and domestic offices to form Professional Development Discussion Groups ("book clubs") to discuss readings from the list. To support that initiative, AFSA has obtained a grant of $5,000 from the Una Chapman Cox Foundation for a pilot project to help fund the purchase of books for use by official book clubs. We anticipate being able to assist 45 Foreign Service posts and the State Department's Ralph J. Bunche Library in purchasing books for a permanent lending library. AFSA will soon send out a separate message detailing the funding mechanism and application procedures.

NOTE FOR FOREIGN SERVICE RETIREES

14. Foreign Service retirees, whose annuities and Social Security benefits are increased each year by the cost of living adjustment or COLA, will be interested to know that the COLA jumped a full percentage point to 4.5 percent in May. The COLA is based on changes in the consumer price index from the third quarter of one calendar year to the next. Retirees have accumulated 4.5 percent toward the 2007 COLA with four months remaining in the counting period. Cost of Living Adjustments sustain the value of federal annuities, survivor annuities, and Social Security payments by adjusting these payments to keep pace with inflation.

FOREIGN SERVICE BENEFIT PLAN NOTICE

15. The Foreign Service Benefit Plan (FSBP) and Coventry Health Care, the Plan’s underwriter, announce the expansion of disease management services to their members who reside in foreign countries. The new program is tailored specifically to meet the needs of members with diabetes, coronary artery disease, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure. The program provides basic information and support to members via the Plan’s secure e-mails. The Plan will send educational materials and notifications about the member’s condition. Participation is voluntary and confidential.

16. The Plan will contact members who have the diseases referenced above individually on how to sign up for the program. Members must contact the plan at < FSBPhealth@cvty.com >, a secure e-mail address, to indicate they wish to sign up for the program. Once the member enrolls, the member will receive, via secure e-mail, information and a health questionnaire that the member will need to return. Nurse case managers will review the completed questionnaire and customize communication and educational materials based on the member’s individual needs. If you have questions about the program, please contact the FSBP through their secure e-mail address above.

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