James Lankford

The problem with the National Disaster Recovery Framework is it may be a plan without authorities given to the agencies that are truly in charge of things like power or housing.

We can help get the information out to the different committees.

If FEMA engaged in it, they are going to get a response back in 30 to 45 days. It is going to be very rapid to be able to help them turn around a check.

We have to be able to find a way to either debate that and fix that or to be able to change your authorities.

A big gain that we can have from this... is lessons learned and things that can change in the future.

I want to give you another thank you for how you are working through with houses of worship.

What we need to be able to have is the ability to be able to see these are the issues and to be able to get them out to the right committees to be able to make some of the decisions that need to be made.

I appreciate the opportunity to highlight a program.

I think this is an example, in particular, of where tribes can engage with States.

Gentlemen, thank you for being here and for the conversation. You all know this is exceptionally important, not only to the Nation, but obviously to Indian Country and all of us as well.

Obviously, brings out other areas. What is the cooperation like? Obviously that is not going to be enough to be able to cover it.

So give me two goals that are the nickels and noses type goals here? Will this drive down costs? And will this speed up the process?

So when I meet with the chief human capital officers of the agencies, affectionately called 'CHICOs,' those folks tell me that one of the key areas that slows down Federal hiring, which now is over 106 days on average across the Federal…

So reciprocity is already required?

So what is currently not aligned right now on our standards?

You had said first-time approval is still at 150 days.

What is the key information-gathering that is needed?

Because current law does state 'with certain exceptions.' So it's up to the DNI to know what those certain exceptions are.

Direct hire authority is really important flexibility

Why does that not happen now?

Do we know the costs of hiring when it is done through the Federal agencies?

So the question is, what you just described to me on USA Jobs and such, and the hiring process, and the online look at that dashboard, as you described it, if I were to go look at that right now and go across multiple agencies, are all…

Thank you for your leadership in this regard, and to Angela, especially, nice to see you.

So let me just bring this up, then I am going to go to Senator Daines for his questions as well.

So how do you measure it? Look out 5 years from now, as you are looking back at it. Is it working? Not working? What are you going to look for?