I ask unanimous consent that the period for morning business be extended until 2 p.m., with the time equally divided between the two leaders or their designees, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each. The ACTING…

We must remain vigilant so that privacy and civil liberties are not sacrificed in the name of security.

Supporting our Federal workers at DHS, the intelligence community, and other agencies who make daily sacrifices to keep us safe is essential to this effort.

I support giving the GAO ample powers to review the intelligence community.

Although protecting the public is our primary goal, we must ensure that security procedures and technologies safeguard privacy rights and are not so burdensome that they discourage air travel.

What specific solutions should Congress consider to address pay compression?

Another kind of change we are looking at in an effort to increase progress is that of recruiting diverse candidates to public service.

I thank you so much for your responses. This will be my final question, and it has two parts.

I appreciate OPM's focus on candidate development, including encouraging agencies to work together and pool their resources.

I have worked for a number of years to reform Federal hiring, and I introduced legislation last Congress to streamline the application process.

I rise today to introduce the Furthering International Nuclear Safety Act of 2011 to enhance the implementation of the Convention on Nuclear Safety by taking a more systematic approach to improving civilian nuclear power safety. This…

under USERRA, we really need to protect our returning service members.

I think it is worth a review, and I would again want to work with this Committee on that.

Do you believe the Hatch Act should be reviewed in light of these developments?

I have worked to reform the protections for Federal whistleblowers, enacting the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act.

I feel strongly that our service members' rights must be protected as they prepare to enter or return to the civilian workforce.

I believe that civil servants must be able to serve their country without undue influence or fear of discrimination or retaliation.

Thank you very much, Senator Johnson, for your statement.

Thank you. Ambassador Powell, what is the current status of implementing the Secretary's Diplomacy 3.0 initiative to increase Foreign Service employees by 25 percent and Civil Service employees by 13 percent by Fiscal Year 2014?

Senator, the answer is obviously difficult for all of us as we deal with the Fiscal Year 2011 funding.

As you both know, much of the training at the posts is on-the-job training, which is an important aspect of training.

We cannot afford to leave their training to mistakes made on the way to experience.

Thank you. Ambassador Neumann, as you pointed out in your testimony, although State has established requirements for promotion to the senior ranks, the Academy reported that it is concerned that officers will be unprepared because the…

I am a strong supporter of rotational programs to improve government integration and coordination.

I hope as cuts are examined the Congress will recognize that diplomacy is an essential element of national security.