Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 5037, the District of Columbia Courts and Public Defender Service Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments Act, introduced by my colleague from the District of Columbia, Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton. Voluntary separation incentive payments provide agencies an effective and efficient tool for reducing the size of their workforce, cutting costs in the process. As stewards of taxpayers' dollars, it is important that every agency ensure it is staffed only to the extent that their work requires. H.R. 5037 will provide authority for the District of Columbia to offer buyouts for employees of the D.C. courts and public defenders. This legislation would authorize the District to set up a substantially similar system to that already used by Federal agencies. Utilizing a voluntary separation incentive payment program will assist the D.C. court and public defender systems in reducing cost. When compared to other force reduction efforts, the Government Accountability Office found voluntary separation incentive payments result in greater cost reductions and savings. The GAO review found that voluntary separation payments generate greater savings than direct workforce reductions because the payment encourages higher paid staff to depart. H.R. 5037 will allow the District to decrease the cost and increase the efficiency of administering the judicial system. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5037. Mr.…”