Jim Ryun: “the new Department of Homeland Security will be on the front lines in the war on terrorism. The people who will fulfill…”

“the new Department of Homeland Security will be on the front lines in the war on terrorism. The people who will fulfill the Department's mission must be highly qualified, motivated, and effective. In attracting and keeping this team, we will be competing against the private sector. Recognizing these challenges, the President asked the Congress to give him the maximum flexibility in putting together and managing the Department's workforce. The legislation crafted by the select committee gives the President the flexibility he requested while at the same time preserving a number of important employment protections. This approach represents what is best for both the Nation's security and those who will serve in this new Department. First of all, the bill allows the Secretary to develop a performance management program that effectively links employee performance with the Department's objectives and mission. Secondly, the Secretary will have the freedom to use a broad approach in making job classifications and will not be bound by our current system that confines Federal workers to 15 artificial grades. Additionally, the Secretary will not be restricted by the current rigid pay system. Rather, the Secretary will be able to meaningfully reward performance. We are engaged in a different kind of war. We face a new enemy. We must adapt to meet this new threat. This bill ensures that we will adapt to overcome these new threats.”