July 08, 2003   CIVIL SERVICE REFORM WILL IMPROVE BIOTERROR READINESS Workforce Is Key to Readiness, Says Senator   WASHINGTON, D.C.—Saying that biodefense employees are key to America’s bioterror readiness, Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Susan Collins (R-ME) today urged federal agencies to improve their efforts to hire more scientists and medical experts. Speaking at an event hosted by the Partnership for Public Service to release its new report, Homeland Insecurity: Building the Expertise to Defend America from Bioterrorism, Collins said, “The Partnership’s latest report provides yet another example of the need for fundamental change to our civilian personnel system.” Collins, whose committee has jurisdiction over civilian personnel matters, said that she would work to provide more flexibility to agencies to ensure they have the talent in place to meet their mission requirements. “We made a commitment to reform pay for the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense, but we cannot afford to leave other agencies behind,” Collins asserted. In June, the Governmental Affairs Committee approved Collins’ legislation, the National Security Personnel System Act (S. 1166), which would give the Secretary of Defense flexibility to better manage the department’s 730,000 civilian workers. The bill would provide the Secretary with the power to replace the current General Schedule, 12-grade pay system with a performance-based system, the ability to conduct on-the-spot hiring for hard-to-fill positions, and the authority to raise collective bargaining to the national level rather than negotiating with approximately 1,300 local bargaining units. Collins added that Congress should find ways to help build a biodefense corps. She supports recommendations outlined in the Partnership’s report, such as conducting a national audit of biodefense workforce needs, creating scholarships, encouraging student loan repayment, and promoting ongoing education and job rotations between the public and private sectors. “We must act now to find common sense personnel reforms to better manage and sustain our federal workforce,” said Collins. “Workforce challenges facing federal biodefense agencies underscore the need for reform.”   ###   Printable Version   Related File(s)   Partnership for Public Service Press Conference/Panel Discussion Statement (11.1 KBs) « previous Press Release next Press Release »   1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 July 2003 Press Releases   July 31 - Statement from Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Collins on MCI WorldCom Suspension   July 30 - Statement of Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Susan M. Collins on SARS Hearing   July 29 - Statement of Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Collins   July 28 - Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Collins “Extremely Disturbed” by Latest MCI WorldCom Allegations   July 25 - Chairman Collins Calls on IRS to Keep Lewiston Office Open   July 25 - Chairman Collins: Loophole Allows Taxpayer Dollars to Pay for Federal Workers’ Diploma Mill Degrees   July 17 - Sen. Collins: Streamline the Homeland Security Grant Process For First Responders   July 16 - Chairmen Collins and Davis Ask GAO to Investigate Federal Funding of Diploma Mill Degrees   July 15 - Chairman Collins Examines Why Parents Must Relinquish Custody to Obtain Mental Health Services for Their Kids   July 8 current Press Release   July 7 - Chairman Collins Calls for Investigation Into Diploma Mills   July 3 - Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Collins Applauds Increased Border Patrol Guards
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