Good Morning. I would like to thank Governor Ridge for joining us today, and I especially want to welcome my former colleagues, Senator Hart and Senator Rudman back to the Senate. As we review the administration's proposal for a Department of Homeland Security, we must not forget the 170,000 federal employees who will staff this new agency. It is vital that as we seek to protect America by reorganizing the government, we do not overlook the fundamental rights of our federal employees.

The creation of this new department should not be used as a vehicle to advance broad changes to existing laws that erode the rights now accorded to these federal employees. These rights do not pose a threat to our national security and should not be used as a litmus-test for the patriotism of the federal workforce.

The administration's proposal calls for enhanced management flexibilities in hiring, compensation, and workforce management. Many of the workforce challenges that these flexibilities propose to address are not new.

I find it interesting to note that the Comptroller General convincingly argues that agencies already have 90 percent of the tools needed to manage more effectively.

Rather than doing away with what has worked, we should ask why agencies are not using the flexibilities they have now. Real solutions for civil service reform require strong leadership from the top down. There must be a commitment to the federal merit system and the employees it protects.

The federal civil service is a model fair employer. This comes as a result of a long tradition of Congress and the Executive branch working with employee unions and management associations to enhance the principles of accountability, openness, and procedural justice in government.

Throughout our nation's history, federal employee rights have been compatible with national security. The right to collective bargaining, a fair grievance system, equitable pay, and protection from retaliation for disclosing waste, fraud, and abuse are consistent with homeland security. It is important to note that federal employees are prohibited by statute from striking. Their right to union representation does not constitute a national security risk, nor are union members less loyal than other Americans.

As Chairman of the International Security, Proliferation, and Federal Services Subcommittee, I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure that our homeland security is strengthened and the rights of federal employees are preserved. These objectives are complementary.

On September 11th the federal workforce responded with courage, loyalty and sacrifice, reminding us that we are all soldiers in the war against terrorism. As we begin the difficult task of reorganizing broad segments of the our federal workforce into this new department, let us recognize the valuable contributions federal employees make to their government and their nation.