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U.S.
Office of Personnel Management
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In his State of the Union Address last night, President Bill Clinton spoke of a Nation Rooted in Community.
All of us live in so many communities. Like you, I live in a beautiful city built on a river that served as a road to the rest of the world. And both communities live in the hope that one day they will again have an outstanding football team.
But Winston Churchill never called Washington the most beautiful of the inland cities of the United States. He did say that about Cincinnati, and I can know youre proud of this lovely, hard-working community.
As I sat in the House chamber last night and listened to the President outline his three pillars for a stronger America, I was struck by how the federal workforce is already strengthening the nation along the same lines.
The Presidents vision encompasses an American economy that honors opportunity, a society that demands responsibility and a nation rooted in community.
Our federal community touches many other communities in this nation. Indeed, federal employees make the difference in their communities -- both in their professional and personal lives -- in so many ways that remain unknown and unremarked by the community around them.
This afternoon the community were celebrating is we human resource professionals, gathered together to learn from one another. Thats more than community, its practically family. Thanks for taking the time so we could get together.
Im proud that our federal community leads the nation by example, not rhetoric; actions, not talk.
Believe me, because I am in a position to know: the President, the Vice President, his Cabinet -- myself especially -- know how much good and how much work you have been doing for our nation.
Before we part company today, I hope you will share your ideas for me to bring back to Washington. Because we all know that the great business of the United States is done here in Cincinnati -- and throughout the nation and the world.
Delivering better customer service is key to the civil service improvements we will undertake over the next few years.
We have all been through a great deal these past five years, most of it good, some of it difficult, but all of it extraordinary. We are making history.
President Clinton, in his State of the Union Address last night, emphasized the importance of his balanced budget to the nations future. When he took office in 1993, the deficit for just this year was was projected at $357 billion -- and rising.
Instead, the fiscal discipline the President brought to Washington spurred an economic boom that has created more than 14.3 million new jobs overall, and the healthiest economy in years -- and did what the critics said could not be done, brought the federal budget into balance.
We in this room know that the balanced budget is possible -- in no small measure -- to the federal workforce. Its downsizing reduced the career ranks of the federal workforce by almost 15 percent since 1993. Thats 331,000 people -- or enough to fill the San Diego stadium where the Super Bowl was just played four times.
And thanks to the healthy economy and our go-the-extra-mile efforts, those leaving federal service virtually all landed on their feet. We had to resort to reductions-in-force for less than 10 percent of our downsizing. Buyouts and career transition assistance and special rehiring rules for displaced employees really helped a lot of people. And at OPM, we even created a new private sector company owned by its employees -- former federal employees of our Investigations Service.
That Employee Stock Ownership Plan is succeeding beyond our expectations, providing $70 million in value to the taxpayer in just five years, and providing a livelihood to our former workers that in some ways exceeds what they formerly enjoyed.
Yes, this downsizing process was painful. But, as the President said last night, it all begins with fiscal discipline. Discipline isnt easy, but it is essential.
We did it, despite the pain. We did it, because, frankly, the American people demanded that it be done. And for the first time in our lifetimes, the federal workforce is no longer a political campaign issue, but is again a source of pride to all America. Just last Wednesday -- January 21 -- the Washington Post reported that its most recent news poll found -- and I quote -- that Americans are far more satisfied now than at any time in recent years with .... the performance of the federal government. The poll showed that even among that group whose members are most dissatisfied with government, the satisfaction rate has increased from 20 percent in 1995 to 44 percent today.
Think of that! In three years, your efforts and the Presidents reinventing government initiatives more than doubled the satisfaction rate among the most severe ranks of critics.
I congratulate you on behalf of the President and Administration, and thank you for what you have accomplished.
For the first time in our lifetimes, instead of just talking about reforming federal government -- creating a government that costs less and works better -- action has been taken. And that action will continue.
We are all, as a result, working harder and smarter.
Working harder and smarter is the imperative as we head into a new millenium.
The imperative to work smarter is why we are taking a close and long look at new human resources management initiatives -- an area in which I hope you will share your expertise with me during the question and answer session.
We are now taking only the preliminary steps, so forgive me for being less specific than I would like.
I do want the opportunity to hear from you what would most advance human resources management for the United States government.
In general, we recognize that agencies remain unsatisfied with the degree of change theyve seen and need more flexibility and accountability. The Hill providing selected agencies with a few personnel flexibilities is not effective reform. Congress itself is examining -- and is expected to propose -- a package of Civil Service initiatives this year.
Clearly, we will all be monitoring those developments and OPM will offer its services to Congress to modify and improve any suggestions to the fullest extent possible.
But be assured, the Office of Personnel Management is working on its own initiatives to create the Civil Service of the future.
I believe it is critical that OPM step out and provide substantive policy leadership in the year ahead.
OPM is the governments central human resources management agency. We believe a rational, systematic approach to changing human resources management policies is necessary.
The goal is to create a system that blends flexibility with consistency; and one that balances that flexibility with accountability.
Yes, we are putting together a set of initiatives for 1998.
Our starting point was the issues raised by the federal human resources community and managers and other stakeholders in the past. Based on this foundation, we have come up with a framework of proposals. Many will require legislation, but some will take only administrative action.
This framework sets my agenda for OPM and federal human resources management for 1998 -- and beyond.
I envision an OPM that equips agencies with the flexibilities you need to manage your human resources strategically. Those flexibilities will let you accommodate your different missions, work forces, technologies, and cultures.
At the same time, I see an OPM that continues to serve fundamental, broad interests that the government has as an employer. These governmentwide interests and values include the merit system, veterans preference, fair treatment, accountability, effective labor-management relations, and providing employee benefits that evolve to meet employee needs.
Through this agenda OPM will continue to accomplish its own strategic objectives, and carry out our mission as a central management agency. OPM will continue to provide policy leadership and technical expertise. We will continue to meet the needs of the public, of the President, of employees and managers, and of agencies.
Youll be hearing and seeing more about this agenda in the future. We will continue to work with you, with your suggestions and experience and ideas, as OPM moves forward.
And thats enough from me. Im anxious to hear from you. What are your questions and comments?