Political Quotes

“I rise in support of H.R. 3924, the Freedom to Telecommute Act of 2002. Mr. Chairman, I have been a strong advocate of telecommuting and believe that it can be a major answer to solving traffic congestion around the country. It's simple. Fewer cars equal less traffic equal less pollution. The federal government is already on the way to making telework a standard option for federal employees. Two years ago I included a provision in the transportation spending bill which requires federal agencies to identify employees whose jobs would be appropriate for telework one or more days each week. By the end of last year, each agency was required to offer the telework option to 25 percent of these eligible employees and to continue offering the option to an additional 25 percent until 100 percent of federal employees who are able to telework can. My friend and colleague from Virginia, Representative Davis who strongly supports the federal telework program, has sponsored the Freedom to Telecommute Act on the floor today. This bill to authorize telecommuting for federal contractors will partner with my provision requiring federal agencies to allow workers to telework. It only makes sense that if we are working to encourage federal employees to be teleworking, we should also be allowing employees of federal contractors who work side by side with federal workers the option to telecommute.”