[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 111 (Thursday, July 25, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1382]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3816, ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1997

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                               speech of

                          HON. THOMAS M. DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 24, 1996

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3816) making 
     appropriations for energy and water development for the 
     fiscal year ending September 30, 1997, and for other 
     purposes:

  Mr. DAVIS. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to indicate my strong 
opposition to the severe cuts this legislation imposes on the 
Department of Energy and its employees. Congress must continue to 
ensure, within the Department of Energy appropriations bill for fiscal 
year 1997, that DOE has the ability to perform its important mission of 
meeting our present and future energy needs. The bill under 
consideration by the House today funds many critical programs, yet, I 
believe it greatly restricts the Department of Energy's ability to 
perform its mission by reducing departmental administration by 
approximately 30 percent.
  DOE's departmental administration salary and expense budget is 
reduced under this bill by 20 percent--a reduction of more than $50 
million in fiscal year 1997. Instead of allowing DOE to reallocate 
their reduced resources as they deem appropriate, it forces DOE to 
reduce positions by capping FTE totals at 1,029--a reduction of nearly 
500 FTE's, or one-third of the departmental administration staff. 
Further the bill sets specific FTE targets for individual offices with 
this account.
  Last Year, in the fiscal year 1996 appropriations bill, Congress 
asked DOE headquarters personnel and certain programs to make 
significant cuts. The departmental administration account was reduced 
by 15 percent, which translates to a reduction of nearly 400 FTE's. DOE 
managers worked hard to administer this staff reduction without 
resorting to a reduction-in-force. In order to save jobs, performance 
awards were eliminated, overtime was reduced by over half, and 
furloughs were used to address funding shortfalls. Despite these 
substantial reductions in operating costs at DOE headquarters, a \2/3\ 
reduction since 1993, this bill sets the general management and program 
support function of DOE at 47 percent less than last year and 20 
percent less than the administration's request. I believe these 
reductions are too severe and will not allow DOE to continue to perform 
its mission.
  Mr. Speaker, as you are aware this has been a difficult year for 
Federal employees. They have endured downsizing, RIFs, shutdowns, 
general uncertainty, and reduced benefits. Federal employees are among 
the most resilient people I know, but if we as a Government hope to 
continue to attract the best and the brightest into Government service, 
we cannot continue the type of policy set by this legislation. This 
bill goes too far. I do not disagree that we all need to cutback as we 
work to balance the Federal budget. However, I am strongly opposed to 
imposing such severe cuts and limiting DOE's ability to manage these 
cuts by mandating FTE ceilings.
  The negative ramifications of this unprecedented cut will severely 
affect the many important projects funded in this year's energy and 
water appropriations bill. The bill targets cuts to the environmental 
management program, nonproliferation and energy efficiency and 
renewable energy. In addition, the 90 percent cut in DOE's office of 
policy will leave only 20 employees to perform critical technical and 
economic analysis and hamper their ability to efficiently respond to 
Congress, State and local governments, and private citizens.
  Mr. Speaker, I regret the inclusion of these deep and draconian cuts 
to the DOE budget, and the specific FTE targets mandated on the 
departmental headquarters. It has damaged this important legislation, 
and I cannot support its passage.

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