Rep. Chellie Pingree

Protecting Federal Workers Act This bill nullifies certain executive orders concerning federal-employee collective bargaining, classifications, and training. Specifically, it rescinds orders and a memorandum that limit the use of unrestricted grants for union activity, specify objectives for agencies to negotiate collective-bargaining agreements and establish the Interagency Labor Relations Working Group, establish principles for the removal and discipline of federal employees and other personnel issues, prohibit government contractors and other entities from conducting specified workplace training related to race or sex, place certain executive agency positions under a new schedule in the excepted service instead of the competitive service, and delegate authority to the Secretary of Defense to exclude the Department of Defense from certain labor-relations requirements.

Repeal of the Authorization for Use of Military Force This bill repeals the Authorization for Use of Military Force signed into law September 18, 2001.

Expanding Penalty Free Withdrawal Act This bill expands the exceptions in the Internal Revenue Code that permit penalty-free distributions to unemployed individuals from retirement plans. The 10% additional tax on early distributions from retirement plans does not apply to an individual after separation from employment if (1) the individual has received federal or state unemployment compensation for 26 consecutive weeks or, if less, the maximum period available under state law; and (2) the distributions are made during the year or the succeeding year in which the compensation is paid. The exception is limited to the lesser of (1) $50,000 from all plans of the individual over a one-year period, or (2) the greater of $10,000 or one-half of the fair market value of the individual's retirement plans and the nonforfeitable portion of the individual's defined contribution plans. The exception does not apply to distributions that are (1) included in the existing exception for distributions to unemployed individuals for health insurance premiums, or (2) are made after the individual has been employed for at least 60 days after the separation.