Mr. President, this week, we celebrate Public Service Recognition Week, a time when all Americans are asked to remember the Nation's public workers who serve their country and the world by delivering…
Mr. President, this week, we celebrate Public Service Recognition Week, a time when all Americans are asked to remember the Nation's public workers who serve their country and the world by delivering services essential to our daily lives.
As the ranking member of the Federal Workforce Subcommittee, I wish to spotlight the dedication, commitment, and loyalty demonstrated every day by public servants. That is why I introduce annually--and the Senate passes--a resolution honoring employees at all levels of Government. In the aftermath of 9/11 and the anthrax attacks a month later, we gained a better appreciation of the critical work undertaken by public employees, such as firefighters, paramedics, nurses, and U.S. postal workers. I thank my colleagues for their quick action last week in passing my resolution, S. Res. 412, which I introduced with the support of the leadership of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Despite the need to support public workers, far too often we take for granted these men and women whose sense of duty and devotion to country guides the work they do daily for their fellow Americans. Although our lives are enriched by the work of Federal employees, most people are unfamiliar with the Federal Executive Boards, FEB, which were created by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 to better coordinate the activities of the Federal Government outside of Washington, DC. Decisions affecting the expenditure of billions of taxpayer dollars are made in the field which affect all Americans. Having FEBs--whose members are senior agency personnel--saves time, money, and effort while ensuring that these senior employees are more in touch with State and local governments, as well as their communities.
I am especially proud of the Honolulu-Pacific Federal Executive Board, HPFEB, which today celebrates its 50th Excellence in Federal Government Awards with a ceremony at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. I am also pleased to note that before an FEB was even established in Hawaii, forward thinkers had already begun to honor the best in Federal service through these awards. Today's program not only honors the 153 employees receiving awards but provides all agencies and military commands in Hawaii and the Pacific an opportunity to showcase their organizations through exhibits outside the hotel's ballroom. Honoring today's awardees are Federal agency heads, military commanders, State and local government officials, and members of the business community.
According to the HPFEB, the Excellence in Federal Government Awards Program recognizes outstanding Federal employees for their efforts, leadership, and initiative. The program encourages innovation and excellence in government, reinforces pride in Federal service, and helps call public attention to the broad range of services provided by Federal employees.
The HPFEB has over 90 members, senior heads of Federal agencies and military commands, who represent the over 70,000 civilian and military personnel in the Pacific region, including the Department of Defense, the Government's largest civilian employer in Hawaii. Like its 27 counterparts nationwide, the HPFEB communicates with and partners with the community, works to reduce costs and improve efficiencies, facilitates service delivery and coordinates emergency services.
The Honolulu-Pacific Federal Executive Board embraces its interagency coordinating role and is proud of its five primary accomplishments: creating and operating the Pacific Leadership Academy to ensure that agencies within Hawaii and the Pacific area are
training today and tomorrow's cadre of Federal leaders; celebrating the work of Federal employees through its Excellence in Government Awards, which last year honored 126 employees; supporting the Combined Federal Campaign by raising over $6.1 million in 2005; working with Federal, State, and local governments to improve emergency planning by participating in disaster exercises, partnering with the State of Hawaii to purchase the $70,000 system ``Notifyer,'' and developing a simultaneous broadcast telephone message system that updates emergency information; and establishing councils and working groups.
Hawaii's FEB is sponsored by the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, Department of the Navy, and is headed by Ms. Gloria Uyehara, the Executive Director, who has over 30 years of career service, most recently as head of the Education and Development Office, promoting leadership development and succession planning at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. She is supported by Ms. Gerry A. Reese, who has been with the HPFEB for more than 30 years as the Executive Assistant.
Ms. Uyehara points out that today's Excellence in Federal Government Awards provides a model of excellence for all Federal employees and promotes ideas and concepts to encourage the use of best practices. Those Federal and military personnel working with the HPFEB understand the need to reach out to their community and foster cooperation among all levels of Government. These men and women exemplify the spirit of public service. Together they typify today's Federal and military personnel who work tirelessly to make democracy work.
At a time when the Federal Government faces strong competition with the public and private sector for skilled employees and the administration is pushing for greater outsourcing, it is imperative that we continue to support the Government's network of Federal executive boards, associations, and councils. It would be unwise to diminish the critical role that these entities play in identifying and instituting efficiencies and improving Government services within the communities they serve and to the Nation as a whole.
Again, I send my warmest congratulations and aloha to the members of the Honolulu-Pacific Federal Executive Board which provides the leadership, the enthusiasm, and the expertise to ensure that Government is more responsive, innovative, and effective.
