Clarifications on HHS Energy Newsletter

Several of you have brought to my attention concerns about a recent newsletter that went out to HHS employees. You are right; we made a mistake. I have asked my Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management, Joe Ellis, whose office issues the Energy Newsletter, to address this issue in a statement below.

Statement from Assistant Secretary Ellis:

HHS is committed to being a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars and natural resources. One of the ways we have been successful in contributing to energy conservation is by periodically writing to our employees about energy efficiency, conservation, and steps they can take to contribute to these efforts.

Our most recent energy newsletter for employees focused on energy efficient vehicles, and the newsletter encouraged employees to consider the benefits of fuel efficient vehicles when shopping for a car. Unfortunately, the newsletter highlighted vehicles not made by American manufacturers, thereby giving the impression that HHS was encouraging employees to buy foreign makes of cars.

Nothing could be further from our intent. Clearly, the newsletter strayed from its purpose of sharing information about energy conservation that is relevant to working for our Department. In sending such a newsletter, we implied that we endorsed the purchase of cars not made by American companies.

I deeply regret that our newsletter offended anyone, especially those Americans working in the automobile industry and the millions of people who make American automobile manufacturers successful.

Joe Ellis
Assistant Secretary for
Administration and Management, HHS

Comments

Maybe the Department of Health and Human Services should be run by a foreign country! If there ever was a time in this country's history for a second "Tea Party" it would be now. Unfortunetly, revolting against this militant goverment would land the people in jail for 30-life. I guess 12-7-1941 is just meaningless history! Fifty years from now will your department advertize Taliban toaster ovens b/c it makes toast a few seconds quicker than an American made toaster?

Posted by: Thomas Musura | September 20, 2007 at 11:35 PM

Thomas, revolting against the militant government? Surely you jest? Tearing ourselves asunder is not the answer. A divided house will surely fall.

I say revolutionize your own heart. Examine who and what you are. Ask what is missing and where you have missed the mark morally and then ask yourself the question how you can be of service in some way to better our society while we are at war. This would be a far better solution than what you propose.

I write with with all respect. I guess your post just struck a nerve today. We are all so quick to blame others and expect everyone else to do the really difficult, day in and day out, jobs that make up our "government" for little or no pay.

You criticize this administration but that demonstrates a lack of depth. Surely people realize that the problems that we are facing today are not new to this administration. We could go back in history to develop the timelines and who or which party was/is in office.

Maybe I missed the point of your post entirely. I could not quite figure out why you wanted to revolt or complain. I picked up on the tone...

I have my concerns no matter who our leaders happen to be. Intentions and fruit that is the key. If you are saying militant government because of the war surely you do not suggest that we fight that war here? I am sure the enemy would gladly oblige. This war is not of our choosing. We have been attacked. Are you suggesting that we not defend our way of life?

I pray for our military men and women for serving. I am thankful for those who have served in the past to grant us the ability for the freedom of speech. If we are not very careful we will lose all of what those have gone before us fought and died to safeguard.

Posted by: standingfirm | September 21, 2007 at 03:39 PM

Energy conservation - this is a big subject on some pandemic flu sites. Not only because of the risk of power outages adn such but telecommuting.

Having employees work from home where possible.

Of course one back lash is "out of sight - out of mind" Those not in the office feel they will not be seen, there for not noticed and there for not promoted.

Of course one distubing trend is business getting into peoples personal health life. Telling them they can not smoke or do dangerouse activities
One CBS source (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1563554/posts)

Dangerouse activity may be sky diving or the Alternative lifestyle of gay men, IV drug use and other risky behavior.

Will this also extend to pandemics?

Regards,
Allen

Posted by: Allen | September 22, 2007 at 01:18 PM

You shouldn't be apoligizing to Detroit automakers, THEY should be apologizing to the American public for continuing to produce gas-guzzling dinosaurs and putting up political roadblocks against better mileage. Don't drink Big Auto's Kool-aide. The climate crisis is REAL. We MUST have cars and trucks with far better mileage than what is presently coming out of Detroit.

Posted by: d.o. | September 24, 2007 at 08:36 AM

Consider a follow up email displaying the several American hybrid/ green vehicles.

And then leave it alone.

Posted by: Johann | September 24, 2007 at 12:10 PM

From the account in the Kalamazoo Gazette, the letter both recommended that staff avoid buying SUVs and listed environmentally more friendly vehicles, none of them built by domestic automakers. The editorial took both to be an outrage. On the contrary, the first is commendable and only the second a mistake. The statement excerpted above seems to delicately make this distinction. Congratulations.

Posted by: postsolipsist | September 25, 2007 at 08:28 AM

Mr. Secretary,

Sorry for the subject change, but many of us are wondering what became of the "Toolboxes" discussed on your leadership blog. We were told that they would be presented in September, and, well, we are running out of days for this to happen. Would you please comment on when we can expect to see them? Thank you.

Posted by: Science Teacher | September 26, 2007 at 12:46 PM

We should buy the most fuel efficient cars no matter where they are made. On the contrary, perhaps competition from better car makers will induce USA manufacturers to produce cars that are, in fact, worth buying. (And anyway, it's a little LATE to be complain about USA jobs, no? Lookee how eagerly USA companies have sent USA jobs to other countries. What's to support?)

Posted by: Frank Jones | September 28, 2007 at 09:44 AM

Mr. Secretary,

FCW (federal computer weekly) recently told of people opinions on telecommuting and the governments goals. Upgrading the infrastructure and creating backup systems was not metioned.

You tube, Second Life, etc are growing faster. More applications are becomming thin clients or web based. Hence the ablitiy to work at home is growing but the "Information super highway" is not.

For Pandemic preparedness and lessons learned after Katrina and 9/11 it would be good to have a mobile workforce. People who could pick up - move and then set down hundreds of miles away to work.

We used to be pioneers. We used to be Native Americans who could move. Now it seems we are tied to teh office.

Only by working together can we continue to deliver goods and services. If we had to go back to paper, pencil and filing cabinet it would be harsh (lesson from Y2K)

Regards,
Allen

November is National Native American Month.

Posted by: Allen | September 29, 2007 at 12:27 PM

thanks good post.

Posted by: rüya yorumları | November 04, 2007 at 05:27 AM

Actually American car manufacturers already make cars that get 40 mpg. I have a 2005 Chevy Cobalt that has recorded 40.3 calibrated mpg over the last 5 months. You can see the results on one of your websites at www.fueleconomy.gov. or at URL: https://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.do?action=mpgData&vehicleID=20607&browser=true&details=on
I am car #4. Admittedly, I drive carefully, but the results are legitimate. Imagine if every American could get 60% better than EPA estimates. If you want to know how it can be done, please contact me. Consider including lessons in achieving good gas mileage in all Driver Ed classes, as a starter.

Posted by: John Loser | November 11, 2007 at 08:21 PM

I agree with the post from d.o. Detroit automakers do owe us an apology but in addition to them, our elected politicians as far back as the 1980s do as well.

Does anyone remember the odd-even days of gassing up our vehicles? I do. This occurred in the 1980s while I was in California. There was such a panic at that time. That was an unheeded wake-up call. Life got back to normal and it was business as usual.

What happens to patents for cars that are developed that compete with our auto industry? They are purchased by the auto makers and then shelved. I'm convinced we could have autos running on water alone--steam engines. Why this has not been done, I'll never know....oh, wait, I do know....it's called greed.

Posted by: medical transcription employment | September 28, 2008 at 09:19 PM