[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 64 (Thursday, May 1, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5678-S5679]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 130--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT PUBLIC 
SERVANTS SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND CONTINUED SERVICE 
          TO THE NATION DURING PUBLIC SERVICE RECOGNITION WEEK

  Mr. AKAKA (for himself, Mr. Fitzgerald, Ms. Collins, Mr. Lieberman, 
Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Coleman, and Mr. Levin) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Governmental Affairs:

                              S. Res. 130

       Whereas Public Service Recognition Week provides an 
     opportunity to honor and celebrate the commitment of 
     individuals who meet the needs of the Nation through work at 
     all levels of government;
       Whereas over 20,000,000 men and women work in government 
     service in every city, county, and State across America and 
     in hundreds of cities abroad;
       Whereas Federal, State, and local officials perform 
     essential services the Nation relies upon every day;
       Whereas the United States of America is a great and 
     prosperous Nation, and public service employees have 
     contributed significantly to that greatness and prosperity;
       Whereas the Nation benefits daily from the knowledge and 
     skills of these highly trained individuals;
       Whereas public servants--
       (1) help the Nation recover from natural disasters and 
     terrorist attacks;
       (2) fight crime and fire;
       (3) deliver the mail;
       (4) teach and work in the schools;
       (5) deliver social security and medicare benefits;
       (6) fight disease and promote better health;
       (7) protect the environment and national parks;
       (8) defend and secure critical infrastructure;
       (9) improve and secure transportation and the quality and 
     safety of water and food;
       (10) build and maintain roads and bridges;
       (11) provide vital strategic and support functions to our 
     military;
       (12) keep the Nation's economy stable;
       (13) defend our freedom; and
       (14) advance United States interests around the world;
       Whereas public servants at the Federal, State, and local 
     level are the first line of defense in maintaining homeland 
     security;
       Whereas public servants at every level of government are 
     hard-working men and women, committed to doing a good job 
     regardless of the circumstances;
       Whereas Federal, State, and local government employees have 
     risen to the occasion and demonstrated professionalism, 
     dedication, and courage while fighting the war against 
     terrorism;
       Whereas the men and women serving in the Armed Forces of 
     the United States, as well as those Federal employees who 
     provide support to their efforts, contribute greatly to the 
     security of the Nation and the world;
       Whereas May 5 through 11, 2003, has been designated Public 
     Service Recognition Week to honor America's Federal, State, 
     and local government employees; and
       Whereas Public Service Recognition Week will be celebrated 
     through job fairs, student activities, and agency exhibits: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commends government employees for their outstanding 
     contributions to this great Nation;
       (2) salutes their unyielding dedication and spirit for 
     public service;
       (3) honors those public servants who have given their lives 
     in service to their country;
       (4) calls upon a new generation of workers to consider a 
     career in public service as an honorable profession; and
       (5) encourages efforts to promote public service careers at 
     all levels of government.

  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President. Today I rise to pay tribute to the hard-
working men and women who dedicate their lives to public service. 
Whether it is on the Federal, State, or local level, public servants 
perform essential functions that Americans rely on every day. For this 
reason, it is a privilege to submit a resolution to honor these 
employees for Public Service Recognition Week. I am delighted to be 
joined in this effort by Senators Fitzgerald, Collins, Lieberman, 
Voinovich, Durbin, Coleman, and Levin.
  Public Service Recognition Week takes place the week of May 5, 2003. 
Since 1985, the first week in May showcases the talented men and women 
who serve America as Federal, State and local government employees. 
Throughout the Nation and around the world, public employees use the 
week to educate their fellow citizens how government serves them, and 
how government services make life better for all of us.
  For example, public servants help the Nation recover from natural 
disasters and terrorist attacks; fight crime and fire; deliver the 
mail; teach our children; provide local transportation; protect the 
environment; fight disease and promote better health; improve the 
quality and safety of water and food; and defend our freedom. Since 
September 11, 2001, public servants at the Federal, State, and local 
level worked around the clock to prevent terrorist attacks and reduce 
our vulnerability to future attacks in addition to carrying out their 
other job related responsibilities. Such dedication and hard work 
deserve our recognition.
  I would like to pay particular attention to the men and women who 
serve in our armed forces, and the civilian employees who support their 
missions. These employees are key to the security and defense of our 
Nation. From the war against terrorism to Operation Iraqi Freedom, our 
military and civilian support staff show courage in the face of 
adversity. They too are ready, willing, and able to make this a safer 
world.
  While Public Service Recognition Week represents an opportunity for 
us to honor and celebrate the commitment of individuals who serve the 
needs of the Nation as government and municipal employees, it is also a 
time to call on a new generation of Americans to consider public 
service. As my colleagues know, the Federal Government is facing a 
crisis in its recruitment and retention efforts. The problem is so 
critical that the General Accounting Office, GAO, has placed the so-
called `human capital crisis' on its High Risk List. According to the 
GAO, nearly 50 percent of the Federal workforce will be eligible to 
retire by 2005. Although no one knows how many will actually retire, 
this situation poses serious challenges for succession planning in 
addition to mission performance. Public Service Recognition Week 
provides an opportunity for individuals to gain a deeper understanding 
of the exciting and challenging work in the Federal Government and 
career opportunities available.
  I invite my colleagues to honor the patriotic commitment to public 
service that our Federal employees exemplify and to join in the Federal 
Government's annual celebration. During the week there will be an 
extensive exhibit on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., showcasing 
many of our Federal agencies and branches of the military, as well as 
highlighting the services these agencies provide. In addition to the 
Mall exhibits, I encourage my colleagues to recognize Federal employees 
in their states, as well as State and local government employees, to 
let them know how much their work is appreciated.

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