[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 149 (Thursday, November 1, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11368-S11369]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. THOMPSON:
  S. 1613. A bill to provide for expedited congressional consideration 
of ``Freedom to Manage'' legislative proposals transmitted by the 
President to Congress to eliminate or reduce barriers to efficient 
government operations that are posed by laws that apply to one or more 
agencies, including government-wide laws; to the Committee on 
Governmental Affairs.
  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, I am introducing legislation today that 
was referred to Congress by President Bush. The legislation seeks to 
extensively reform management of the Federal Government. I applaud the 
Administration's attention to the issue of government reform, and I 
will work with my colleagues on the Governmental Affairs Committee and 
in Congress to enact this important package, because it includes 
comprehensive reforms that will make government work better.
  The Governmental Affairs Committee has documented the problems 
affecting Executive Branch operations for some time, and I am impressed 
with the President's attention to these issues at this critical time in 
our Nation's history. The President's package of management reform 
proposals will allow government managers to carry out their critical 
responsibilities for the American public more effectively. It's obvious 
the Administration understands how very important government

[[Page S11369]]

reform is to ensuring that the government can accomplish its varied 
missions.
  The legislation, which includes the Freedom to Manage Act and the 
Managerial Flexibility Act, makes it easier for Executive Branch 
management to increase accountability, reduce unnecessary costs, and 
manage for results. The Managerial Flexibility Act will help the 
government recruit and retain people with needed skills, increase the 
flexibility of federal property management, and allow agencies to 
budget for results. The Freedom to Manage Act would allow other reform 
proposals, submitted to the Congress by the Administration, to be 
considered expeditiously by the Congress.
  I ask unanimous consent that a summary of this important legislation 
be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the summary was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

              Freedom to Manage Reform Package--A Summary

     Freedom to Manage Act of 2001
       This legislation establishes a procedure under which heads 
     of departments and agencies can identify statutory barriers 
     to good management. Congress, in turn, would quickly consider 
     those obstacles and act to remove them.
     Managerial Flexibility Act of 2001
       This legislation provides federal managers with increased 
     flexibility in managing personnel; assigns agencies the 
     responsibility for funding the full government share of the 
     accruing cost of all retirement and retiree health care 
     benefits for Federal employees; and gives agencies greater 
     flexibility in managing property.
       Reform Personnel Management. This proposal gives Federal 
     agencies and managers increased discretion and flexibility in 
     attracting, managing, and retaining a high quality workforce. 
     It empowers Federal agencies to determine when, if, and how 
     they might offer new employee incentives, and it enhances the 
     agencies' authority to use recruitment, retention, and 
     relocation bonuses to compete better with the private sector. 
     The bill permits agencies to develop alternative personnel 
     systems to attract and hire employees that best fit the 
     position, and it will enable managers to offer early 
     retirement packages. By enacting important changes to the 
     Senior Executive Service, this proposal also permits high-
     level Federal managers to be treated more like their private 
     sector counterparts, by results-based performance standards 
     that hold them accountable.
       Budgeting and Managing for Results.--Full Funding for 
     Federal Retiree Costs: This proposal charges Federal agencies 
     the full accruing cost of all retirement and retiree health 
     care benefits for Federal employees. This proposal is the 
     first government-wide step in linking the full cost of 
     resources used with the results achieved, which will make 
     management in the Executive Branch more performance-oriented. 
     This proposal will not change any of the benefits provided by 
     these programs, and will not change the level of employee 
     contributions.
       Reform Federal Property Management.--The Federal Government 
     owns or controls more than 24 million acres of land and 
     facilities, but existing rules restrict the government's 
     ability to consolidate or release underperforming property. 
     In many instances, Federal agencies lack the incentives and 
     authority to renovate the property or tap its equity. This 
     proposal facilitates a total asset management approach to 
     Federal property issues by: improving life cycle planning and 
     management; allowing greater flexibility to optimize asset 
     performance; and providing incentives for better property 
     management. Modernizing these processes enhances government-
     wide property management, bringing the practices federal 
     agencies use to manage their assets into the 21st century.
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