Mr. President, today marks the beginning of Public Service Recognition Week, which has been celebrated annually since 1985. It is a time in which we honor the hundreds of thousands of public servants who perform the essential services that Americans depend on every day.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of this event, and I wish to thank my colleagues for their support in passing under Unanimous Consent, legislation I introduced to commend public servants for their dedication and continued service to the nation during Public Service Recognition Week. The resolution, which was cosponsored by the leadership of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, Senators Collins, Lieberman, Fitzgerald, Durbin, Voinovich, Levin, and Coleman, as well as Senator Murray, the ranking member of the Transportation, Treasury, and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, was introduced on April 8, 2004,
Public Service Recognition Week provides us with an opportunity to acknowledge the work that public servants perform and their commitment to community and country. The work they do affects all of us. Public servants include teachers, members of the Armed Forces, civilian defense workers, postal employees, food inspectors, law enforcement officers, firemen, social workers, crossing guards, and road engineers.
These men and women are the backbone of what makes America great. They deserve our respect and gratitude; and yet for too long, public servants have not been given the recognition they deserve. We must do all we can to foster a better understanding of public service among all Americans and promote public service as an option for young people. As a former educator, I believe it is time to call on a new generation of Americans to consider public service, which is why I am pleased that some schools are now requiring a period of public service in order to graduate.
The federal government should be viewed as an employer of choice, not as a safe harbor in times of economic weakness. But to attract, retain, and train the best and the brightest, federal agencies must have adequate funding for federal employee incentive programs, such as the repayment of student loans. I call on my colleagues to ensure that Congress plays an active role in supporting the federal workforce. Eliminating funding for these programs does not benefit federal employees or the ultimate end-user: the American taxpayer.
In closing, I wish to pay particular attention to the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces and the civilian employees who support military missions. All are key to the security and defense of our nation. From the war against terrorism to the ongoing conflict in Iraq, our military and civilian support staff show courage in the face of adversity. As with the country's Armed Forces, federal employees are ready, willing, and able to make the world safe. Mr. President, as we begin Public Service Recognition Week, I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting our nation's public servants and thanking them for the jobs they do.
