FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 1, 1999 CONTACT: Mary Ann Maloney (202) 606-2402 mamalone@opm.gov OPM DIRECTOR JANICE R. LACHANCE TO SPEAK ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS HISPANIC EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE Washington, D.C. U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Janice R. Lachance will discuss the federal governments efforts to improve Hispanic representation in the federal workforce at the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) 70th Annual National Convention and Exposition. In September 1997, OPM launched a government-wide 9-point plan to reverse Hispanic underrepresentation in the federal government. Hispanics are the only minority group with smaller representation in the federal workforce than in the overall civilian labor force. As a follow-up to the 9-point plan, Lachance developed an internal 10-point plan to improve the representation of Hispanics at the agency. Since the implementation of both plans, the representation of Hispanics in the government has improved. The convention, which will be held in Corpus Christi, Texas, is expected to attract more than 6,000 leaders from government, business, and the Hispanic community. Currently, there are more than 247,000 federal employees and retirees in the state of Texas, with nearly 6,100 federal employees in Corpus Christi alone. WHAT: Director Lachance to speak on federal governments Hispanic Employment Initiative DATE: Monday, July 12, 1999 TIME: 9:15 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. PLACE: Bayfront Plaza Convention Center 1201 N. Shoreline Corpus Christi, Texas In addition to Director Lachances remarks, OPM Deputy Director John Sepulveda will deliver remarks on the same day at 2 p.m. on the Hispanic employment initiatives for the 21st century. Media are invited to interview OPM Director Lachance, President Clintons chief advisor on human resource management issues in the federal government and OPM Deputy Director John Sepulveda. Interviews can be arranged in advance by calling OPMs Ivonne Cunarro at 202-606-2402. -END-

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