Quick Hits

*** Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is hoping lawmakers can crank out a few appropriations bills before the close of the fiscal year. In a statement sent to reporters Sept. 9 in advance of the return of lawmakers to Capitol Hill said, that "a major focus of the Senate this month will be moving forward as many of the regular appropriations bills as possible and then passing a temporary continuing resolution for the outstanding parts of government before the end of September."

The House of Representatives passed multiple appropriations bills and expects to pass a continuing resolution in the week of Sept. 16 to make sure the government stays funded into fiscal 2020.

*** Acting Office of Personal Management Director Margaret Weichert announced that special occupation pay for feds will rise 2.6% in Jan. 2020 in line with the pay raise requested by President Donald Trump. Agency heads seeking a different rate of increase for special occupations must respond to an OPM data call.