Quick Hits

*** Reps. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) and Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) introduced legislation to reauthorize the Merit Systems Protection Board for five years. Work at by the agency's board, which decides cases of wrongful termination and job discrimination brought by federal employees, has been stalled for more than a year by vacancies.

"The MSPB protects whistleblowers from retaliation, veterans from job discrimination, and federal employees from prohibited personnel practices. Congress must ensure that it can immediately restart operations," Connolly said in a statement.

*** For the first time, the European Union imposed sanctions to punish hackers deemed responsible for cyberattacks, including the NotPetya attack. The sanctions were levied by the Council of the EU against six individuals and three entities, according to a July 30 statement.