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STATEMENT
OF
DONALD J. WINSTEAD
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR COMPENSATION
ADMINISTRATION
OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
before the
SUBCOMMITTEE ON
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY, PROLIFERATION,
AND FEDERAL SERVICES
COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
UNITED STATES SENATE
on
THE HOMELAND SECURITY FEDERAL WORKFORCE ACT
MARCH 12, 2002
MR.
CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE:
GOOD AFTERNOON. I
AM DON WINSTEAD. I
SERVE AS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR COMPENSATION ADMINISTRATION
FOR THE OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR BEFORE YOU TODAY
TO DISCUSS S. 1800, THE HOMELAND SECURITY FEDERAL WORKFORCE
ACT.
THE EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11TH FOREVER CHANGED THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS.
EVERY AGENCY MUST NOW CONSIDER ITS WORK AND MISSION IN
A NEW CONTEXT, ONE THAT WAS NEARLY UNIMAGINABLE BEFORE.
THE SKILLS NEEDED BY AGENCIES TO FULFILL THEIR EXPANDED
HOMELAND SECURITY MISSIONS ARE DIVERSE AND IN MANY CASES
UNIQUE TO THE PARTICULAR MISSION OF THE AGENCY.
THE ADMINISTRATION IS COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING THE HUMAN
CAPITAL NEEDS OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCIES, WORKING
TOGETHER WTH THIS SUBCOMMITTEE, AND SUPPORTS THE CONCEPT
UNDERLYING S. 1800.
WE STRONGLY SUPPORT EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT THE FEDERAL
WORKFORCE HAS THE PEOPLE IT NEEDS TO FULFILL HOMELAND SECURITY
MISSIONS, AND WE STAND READY TO WORK WITH THE SPONSORS OF THIS
LEGISLATION TO ACHIEVE OUR MUTUAL GOALS.
S. 1800 WOULD PROVIDE SPECIAL NEW PROGRAMS FOR THOSE
COMPONENTS OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH THAT HAVE TRADITIONALLY
BEEN DESIGNATED AS NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCIES.
FOR THOSE AGENCIES, IT WOULD PROVIDE AN ENHANCED
STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM, A FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
COMPARABLE TO THE RECENTLY IMPLEMENTED “SCHOLARSHIP FOR
SERVICE” PROGRAM, AND A PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE DETAILS OF
EMPLOYEES BETWEEN NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCIES.
THESE ARE ALL CONCEPTS WORTH STUDYING FURTHER.
WE WOULD URGE THAT CONSIDERATION BE IN THE CONTEXT OF BUILDING
ON EXISTING PROGRAMS AND
FLEXIBILITIES. FOR
EXAMPLE, THE CURRENT PROGRAM FOR THE REPAYMENT OF STUDENT
LOANS FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HAS BEEN ACTUALLY OPERATING FOR A
RELATIVELY BRIEF PERIOD.
AS AGENCIES BECOME MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROGRAM AND
ITS FRAMEWORK, WE EXPECT TO SEE GREATER AND MORE EFFECTIVE
USE. WE BELIEVE
ANY CONSIDERATION OF ENHANCEMENTS TO THE PROGRAM SHOULD
REFLECT THOSE EXPERIENCES.
THE ADMINISTRATION IS ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF A SEPARATE FUND FOR THIS WORTHY PURPOSE.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH AGENCIES TO ASSIST THEM
IN USING THEIR INDIVIDUAL SALARIES AND EXPENSES FUNDING TO
TARGET THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION INCENTIVES THAT WILL BE
MOST EFFECTIVE FOR THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS.
WE BELIEVE ALLOWING AGENCIES TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS IS
APPROPRIATE, SINCE WE ARE ULTIMATELY HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE.
TITLE II OF S. 1800 CREATES A FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM FOR GRADUATE
STUDENTS TO ENTER FEDERAL SERVICE IN NATIONAL SECURITY
POSITIONS. WHILE WE QUESTION THE NECESSITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF CREATING
A NEW BOARD TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM, WE SUPPORT THE CONCEPT
OF THIS TITLE WHICH RESEMBLES THAT OF THE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR
SERVICE PROGRAM CURRENTLY OPERATING TO BOLSTER THE
GOVERNMENT'S
INFORMATION
ASSURANCE INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE NATIONAL SECURITY CORPS CONCEPT ALSO PARALLELS EXISTING
AUTHORITIES. THE
OPTION OF BROADENING AN EMPLOYEE’S PERSPECTIVE THROUGH
ROTATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS AMONG ORGANIZATIONS IS ONE WE INCLUDE
IN MANY OF OUR CURRENT PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE HIGHLY REGARDED
PRESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT INTERN PROGRAM.
TYPICALLY, THE PROGRAMS WHICH INCLUDE SUCH
OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOT LIMITED TO A PARTICULAR AREA SUCH AS
NATIONAL SECURITY.
HOWEVER, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE, IN TURN, THAT THE
ADMINISTRATION’S CONCEPT OF NATIONAL SECURITY IS A BROAD
ONE. EVERY
AGENCY MUST BE CONCERNED WITH HOW ITS ROLE AND MISSION LINKS
TO NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS.
PERSONNEL IN THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL WORKING ON
BIO-TERRORISM SOLUTIONS, CUSTOMS INSPECTORS DEVELOPING NEW
STRATEGIES TO ASSURE THE SAFETY OF CONTAINERS IMPORTED INTO
THE UNITED STATES, AND FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
PERSONNEL WORKING ON IMPROVING EVACUATION PROCEDURES AND FIRE
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ARE JUST A FEW OF THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
WHOSE WORK INVOLVES NATIONAL SECURITY, BUT WHO HAVE
TRADITIONALLY NOT BEEN THOUGHT OF AS PART OF THE NATIONAL
SECURITY WORKFORCE.
WE BELIEVE S.1800 SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN THE CONTEXT OF HUMAN
RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PROPOSALS.
IN OUR OPINION, IT MERITS CONSIDERATION ALONG WITH
OTHER CURRENT PROPOSALS FOR CHANGES IN HUMAN RESOURCES
MANAGEMENT PROVISIONS, INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT’S MANAGERIAL
FLEXIBILITY ACT.
THAT ACT OFFERS A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES THAT WOULD HELP
ADDRESS THE HUMAN CAPITAL NEEDS RELATED TO NATIONAL SECURITY
IN THE BROADER SENSE. SENATORS
THOMPSON AND VOINOVICH HAVE INTRODUCED BILLS CONTAINING THESE
IMPORTANT, GOVERNMENT-WIDE PROPOSALS.
WE ENCOURAGE THE CONGRESS TO CONSIDER
THE PRESIDENT’S PROPOSALS WHICH WILL BENEFIT ALL
FEDERAL AGENCIES -- EVEN THOSE WHOSE ROLES IN NATIONAL
SECURITY MATTERS HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY BEEN GIVEN
RECOGNITION. THE
ADMINISTRATION LOOKS FORWARD TO THE UPCOMING HEARINGS TO BE
HELD ON THE PRESIDENT’S LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL.
THE PRESIDENT’S “MANAGERIAL FLEXIBILITY ACT OF 2001"
IS PART OF THE “FREEDOM TO MANAGE” INITIATIVE OUTLINED IN
THE “PRESIDENT’S MANAGEMENT AGENDA” ISSUED IN LATE
AUGUST. SPECIFICALLY,
THE BILL WOULD EQUIP AGENCIES WITH ENHANCED AUTHORITY TO USE
RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND RELOCATION INCENTIVES, AS WELL AS
OTHER TOOLS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
AGENCIES WOULD ALSO BE GIVEN AUTHORITY TO DIRECTLY HIRE
CANDIDATES FOR CERTAIN POSITIONS FOR WHICH THERE IS A SHORTAGE
OF CANDIDATES OR A CRITICAL HIRING NEED, AS WELL AS PERMITTING
THE USE OF ALTERNATIVE RANKING AND SELECTION PROCEDURES IN THE
HIRING PROCESS.
WE WISH TO MAKE IT PERFECTLY CLEAR THAT THE ADMINISTRATION’S
SUPPORT FOR VETERANS’ PREFERENCE HAS NOT ABATED IN ANY WAY. THIS ADMINISTRATION PLACES GREAT IMPORTANCE ON VETERANS’
EMPLOYMENT ISSUES – IN PARTICULAR ENSURING THAT VETERANS
RECEIVE THE EMPLOYMENT PREFERENCES THEY HAVE EARNED.
THE VETERANS’ PREFERENCE LAWS HAVE LONG BEEN A
CORNERSTONE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE, AND OPM HAS BEEN AT THE
FOREFRONT OF EFFORTS TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT VETERANS’
PREFERENCE IN FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT.
WE SHARE THE VIEW HELD BY VETERANS’ SERVICE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT THE NATION OWES A DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO ITS
VETERANS. VETERANS’
PREFERENCE PROVIDES A MEASURE OF COMPENSATION FOR THOSE BRAVE
YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO LEFT THEIR FAMILIES, HOME, AND HEARTH
TO ANSWER THE NATION’S CALL TO ARMS.
AS A PACKAGE, THESE NEW AND EXPANDED AUTHORITIES WILL EMPOWER
FEDERAL MANAGERS TO MAKE THE DECISIONS AND CULTIVATE A
WORKFORCE THAT CAN LEAD TO INCREASED EFFICIENCY AND
EFFECTIVENESS IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND CAN RESPOND TO THE
CHANGING DYNAMICS OF THE ECONOMY AND THE CHALLENGES OF A
CHANGING WORLD.
THIS CONCLUDES MY REMARKS.
I WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
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