Washington, DC - U.S. Office of Personnel Management Director Kay Coles James urged the members of the Chief Human Capital Officers (CHCO) Council, which she chairs by federal statute, to take the opportunity to recognize the employees in their respective agencies and departments who are members of the National Guard and Reserve by signing a statement of support being circulated by the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR).

"ESGR's story is a good one. At a time of war, it is important to show support for the men and women who are federal employees and who serve in the Guard and Reserve," James said. "Signing this statement of support for the National Guard and Reserve is a great message to send to your employees who serve as well as those who don't."

In October 2004, Director James signed the ESGR's statement of support at an event that demonstrated the Bush Administration's consistent support for the men and women in uniform.

"Under Mrs. James' leadership, great things are happening," said Major General (Ret.) Bob Hollingsworth, executive director of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. "This is a big deal because the lives of so many people depend on this, because if we get people into combat, the last thing we want them to be concerned about is their job, we want them to be focused on the job at hand. The private sector views the federal government's action on this as a model for their own actions."

Other topics discussed included the transfer of the Department of Defense's Defense Security Service agency into the Office of Personnel Management, the Government Relocation Advisory Board, which is examining relocation rules for the federal workforce, and a report of the Council's Subcommittee on Employee Conduct and Poor Performers, which is considering ways to help empower managers, especially those on the front lines.

The eighth and final meeting of the CHCO Council during 2004 was attended by Chief Human Capital Officers from the following agencies:

Department of Agriculture
Department of Commerce
Department of Defense
Department of Education
Department of Energy
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Department of the Interior
Department of Justice
Department of Labor
Department of Transportation
Department of the Treasury
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Office of Personnel Management
Social Security Administration
Small Agency Council

Our mission is to ensure the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce. OPM supports U.S. agencies with personnel services and policy leadership including staffing tools, guidance on labor-management relations and programs to improve work force performance.