[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 4, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S421-S422]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


         SENATE RESOLUTION 23--REL- ATIVE TO THE OREGON OPTION

  Mr. HATFIELD submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.

                               S. Res. 23

       Whereas Federal, State and local governments are dealing 
     with increasingly complex problems which require the delivery 
     of many kinds of social services at all levels of government;
       Whereas historically, Federal programs have addressed the 
     Nation's problems by providing categorical assistance with 
     detailed requirements relating to the use of funds which are 
     often delivered by State and local governments;
       Whereas although the current approach is one method of 
     service delivery, a number of problems exist in the current 
     intergovernmental structure that impede effective delivery of 
     vital services by State and local governments;
       Whereas it is more important than ever to provide programs 
     that respond flexibly to the needs of the Nation's States and 
     communities, reduce the barriers between programs that impede 
     Federal, State and local governments' ability to effectively 
     deliver services, encourage the Nation's Federal, State and 
     local governments to be innovative in creating programs that 
     meet the unique needs of the people in their communities 
     while continuing to address national goals, and improve the 
     accountability of all levels of government by better 
     measuring government performance and better meeting the needs 
     of service recipients;
       Whereas the State and local governments of Oregon have 
     proposed a pilot project, called the Oregon Option, that 
     would utilize strategic planning and performance-based 
     management that may provide the new models for 
     intergovernmental social service delivery;
       Whereas the Oregon Option is a prototype of a new 
     intergovernmental relations system, and it has the potential 
     to completely transform the relationships among Federal, 
     State and local governments by creating a 
     [[Page S422]] system of intergovernmental service delivery 
     and funding that is based on measurable performance, customer 
     satisfaction, prevention, flexibility, and service 
     integration; and
       Whereas the Oregon Option has the potential to dramatically 
     improve the quality of Federal, State and local services to 
     Oregonians: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the 
     Oregon Option project has the potential to improve 
     intergovernmental service delivery by shifting accountability 
     from compliance to performance results and the Federal 
     Government should continue in its partnership with the State 
     and local governments of Oregon to fully implement the Oregon 
     Option.

  Mr. HATFIELD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a 
memorandum of understanding and a letter regarding the Oregon Option be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

      Memorandum of Understanding Regarding ``The Oregon Option''


                               I. Purpose

       The purpose of this Memorandum Of Understanding is to 
     encourage and facilitate cooperation among Federal, State and 
     local entities to redesign and test an outcomes oriented 
     approach to intergovernmental service delivery. This special 
     partnership and long-range commitment will serve as 
     demonstration of principles and practices which may serve as 
     a model for improvements nationwide.


                             ii. background

       In July 1994, Oregon proposed a multi-year demonstration 
     with the Federal Government to redesign intergovernmental 
     service delivery, structured and operated to achieve 
     measurable results that will improve the lives of Oregonians.
       Oregon is uniquely suited for an experimental demonstration 
     to develop an outcomes oriented approach to intergovernmental 
     services. The State and many local governments have begun 
     using an outcomes model for establishing longrange vision, 
     setting public priorities, allocating resources, designing 
     services, and measuring results. The Oregon Legislature has 
     endorsed the Oregon ``Benchmarks.'' Further, many nonprofit 
     organizations, businesses, and civic groups in Oregon are 
     aligned to a benchmark process with State, county and local 
     jurisdictions.


                  iii. Principles to guide cooperation

       The following principles should guide the parties 
     cooperation in this undertaking:
       A re-designed system would be:
       Structured, managed, and evaluated on the basis of results 
     (i.e., progress in achieving benchmarks).
       Oriented to customer needs and satisfaction, especially 
     through integration of services.
       Biased toward prevention rather than remediation of 
     problems.
       Simplified and integrated as much as possible, delegating 
     responsibilities for service, design, delivery, and results 
     to front-line, local-level providers, whether they are local 
     agencies or local officies of state agencies.


                  iv. responsibilities of the parties

       The parties to this memorandum will work together as 
     partners to (1) identify benchmarks, strategies, and measures 
     that provide a framework for improved intergovernmental 
     service delivery and (2) undertake efforts to identify and 
     eliminate barriers to achieving program results.


                             v. authorities

       The principles and responsibilities covered in this 
     memorandum are intended to improve the coordinated delivery 
     of intergovernmental programs. This memorandum does not 
     commit any of the parties to a particular level of resources; 
     nor is it intended to create any right or benefit or diminish 
     any existing right or benefit, substantive or procedural, 
     enforceable at law by a party against the United States, 
     State of Oregon, any state or federal agency, any state or 
     federal official, any party of this agreement, or any person. 
     While significant changes to the intergovernmental service 
     delivery system are anticipated as result of this effort, 
     this is not a legally binding or enforceable agreement. 
     Nothing in this memorandum alters the responsibilities or 
     statutory authorities of the Federal agencies, or State or 
     local governments.
                                                                    ____

                                        Oregon Progress Board,

                                       Salem, OR, January 3, 1993.
     Hon. Mark O. Hatfield,
     U.S. Senator,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Hatfield: Thank you for introducing a Senate 
     Resolution in support of the Oregon Option.
       For the past six years, the Oregon Progress Board has been 
     developing and championing Oregon Benchmarks, measurable 
     indicators of how our state is performing in education, 
     health, environmental quality and economic development. The 
     Benchmarks have been extensively reviewed through public 
     meetings, and the measures are used widely to guide public, 
     non-profit and private sectors activities.
       Through the Oregon Option, we hope to apply the Oregon 
     Benchmarks to federal programs. The typical federal approach 
     to domestic programs carried out by state and local 
     governments is to structure and manage service delivery from 
     the top down. Officials in Washington define problems and 
     solutions, prescribe service activities, impose complex but 
     often conflicting and wasteful regulations and measure 
     program success based on compliance rather than on true 
     results.
       Under the Oregon Option, federal, state and local partners 
     work together to define results--in the form of benchmarks--
     that they want to achieve with federal dollars. State and 
     local service providers then have the latitude to determine 
     how best to achieve those results. The approach unburdens 
     Oregon's state and local service providers from paperwork and 
     frees their time and energy to deliver results.
       We hope that the Oregon Option can become a model for a 
     different way to deliver intergovernmental services, a model 
     that empowers communities and front line workers to achieve 
     the results citizens demand.
       Endorsement by the Senate would give the Oregon Option an 
     enormous boost. We greatly appreciate your support for this 
     effort.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Duncan Wyse,
     Executive Director.
                                                                    ____

                                            Marion County, Oregon,


                                       Board of Commissioners,

                                                December 30, 1994.
     Hon. Mark O. Hatfield,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Hatfield: I am writing to offer my sincere 
     thanks to you for introducing your Senate Resolution 
     recognizing the importance of The Oregon Option and calling 
     for its full implementation.
       The Oregon Option offers us an historic opportunity to 
     create a more responsive, efficient government which gives 
     local communities greater responsibility for their own 
     success. Ultimately, through this collaborative effort, I 
     believe that we can restore credibility for our institutions 
     and redefine governance for our citizens.
       Much of the current debate over intergovernmental relations 
     revolves around the level of government at which we place 
     authority and responsibility for delivering services. Such a 
     debate is empty if it does not take the time to ensure 
     accountability for results, which The Oregon Option has as 
     its central focus.
       I hope that the Senate will enthusiastically adopt your 
     resolution, and that the Federal Administration will work 
     quickly to fully implement this important proposal which is 
     already showing signs of success in Oregon.
           Sincerely,

                                               Randall Franke,

                            Marion County Commissioner; President,
                                 National Association of Counties.
     

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