Political Quotes

“I rise today to express my strong support for H.R. 3345, the Federal Workforce Restructuring Act. This legislation would further emphasize this Congress' support for the reduction of Government spending, as outlined in the National Performance Review. On November 22, 1993, the House overwhelmingly supported the Vice President's plan to reduce spending of the Federal Government. The National Performance Review called for the downsizing of the Federal Government by 252,000 positions within 5 years. H.R. 3345 humanely reduces the number of Federal employees by providing Federal agencies the ability to offer buyouts to those who voluntarily resign or retire. Mr. Chairman, it is my belief that mandatory reductions in force are an inhumane means of downsizing our Federal Government. Mandatory layoffs unfairly target the most recently hired employees, causing a disproportionate number of minorities and women to be released, reducing the diversity of the workplace. Layoffs also tend to lower the productivity of the Federal Government by removing vital clerical and administrative positions and leave agencies saturated with a redundancy of middle-management positions. Reductions in force can also instill a sense of fear among those employees targeted for removal. Voluntary separation incentives are the most cost-effective and equitable means of achieving targeted reductions in the Federal work force.”