[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 50 (Thursday, March 22, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3613-S3615]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. AKAKA:
  S. 967. A bill to amend chapter 41 of title 5, United States Code, to 
provide for the establishment and authorization of funding for certain 
training programs for supervisors of Federal employees; to the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today to reintroduce the Federal 
Supervisor Training Act to enhance Federal employee and manager 
performance, and, in turn, agency performance.
  Our Nation's public servants administer a vast array of programs 
designed to meet the needs of the citizens of this country, and indeed 
the world. These employees deserve the support and guidance of trained 
managers who empower them to perform effectively. Furthermore, 
employees must have a clear understanding of their roles and 
responsibilities. Training programs help managers and supervisors 
improve their communication skills and promote stronger manager-
employee relationships.
  While the Federal Government encourages management and supervisory 
training, the development and implementation of training programs is 
left to the discretion of individual agencies. This leads to 
inconsistent guidance on training and sometimes inadequate training due 
to an agency's other priorities and limited resources. Meaningful 
training matters. Training should not be discretionary for agencies.
  Given the growing number of Federal managers who are eligible to 
retire, and the need to attract a robust, well-skilled workforce, it is 
important that employees, who are expected to manage and supervise, 
have the tools to do so effectively.
  In January 2007, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) released 
the 2006 Federal Human Capital Survey,

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which showed that the federal government's employees and senior 
managers and leaders still face communication problems. For example, 
according to the survey: only 49 percent of Federal employees have a 
high level of respect for senior leaders in their agencies, only 41 
percent say they are satisfied with their leaders' policies and 
practices, and only 47 percent of Federal employees said they were 
satisfied with the information they get from management.
  Upon the release of the survey, OPM Director Linda Springer wrote, 
``As many senior leaders retire, the Federal Government also faces a 
challenge--and opportunity--to improve the effectiveness of the 
leadership corps across Government. We must develop the kinds of 
leaders who can ensure a talented and committed Federal workforce now 
and in the future. Our leaders will need to adapt the workplaces and 
opportunities they offer to attract the best and the brightest from 
diverse talent pools.''
  Good leadership begins with strong management training. It is time to 
ensure that Federal managers receive appropriate training to supervise 
federal employees. I believe the Federal Supervisor Training Act will 
help us reach that goal. My bill will bridge the training gap that 
exists now and help ensure that Federal managers have the necessary 
skills to communicate with and manage Federal employees.
  The Federal Supervisor Training Act has three major training 
components. First, the bill will require that new supervisors receive 
training in the initial 12 months on the job, with mandatory retraining 
every three years on how to work with employees to develop performance 
expectations and evaluate employees. Current managers will have three 
years to obtain their initial training. Second, the bill requires 
mentoring for new supervisors and training on how to mentor employees. 
Third, the measure requires training on the laws governing and the 
procedures for enforcing whistleblower and anti-discrimination rights.
  In addition, my bill will: set standards that supervisors should meet 
in order to manage employees effectively, assess a manager's ability to 
meet these standards, and provide training to improve areas identified 
in personnel assessments.
  I am delighted by the support my bill has received from the 
Government Managers Coalition, which represents members of the Senior 
Executives Association, the Federal Managers Association, the 
Professional Managers Association, the Federal Aviation Administration 
Managers Association, and the National Council of Social Security 
Management Associations; the American Federation of Government 
Employees; the National Treasury Employees Union; the International 
Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers; the AFL-CIO, Metal 
Trades Department, as well as the Partnership for Public Service. I 
believe this broad support, from employee unions to management 
associations to outside good government groups demonstrates the need of 
mandatory training programs and passage of this bill. I urge my 
colleagues to support this important legislation.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of this bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 967

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Supervisor Training 
     Act of 2007''.

     SEC. 2. MANDATORY TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR SUPERVISORS.

       (a) In General.--Section 4121 of title 5, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) by inserting before ``In consultation with'' the 
     following:
       ``(a) In this section, the term `supervisor' means--
       ``(1) a supervisor as defined under section 7103(a)(10);
       ``(2) a management official as defined under section 
     7103(a)(11); and
       ``(3) any other employee as the Office of Personnel 
     Management may by regulation prescribe.'';
       (2) by striking ``In consultation with'' and inserting 
     ``(b) Under operating standards promulgated by, and in 
     consultation with,''; and
       (3) by striking paragraph (2) (of the matter redesignated 
     as subsection (b) as a result of the amendment under 
     paragraph (2) of this subsection) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(2)(A) a program to provide interactive instructor-based 
     training to supervisors on actions, options, and strategies a 
     supervisor may use in--
       ``(i) developing and discussing relevant goals and 
     objectives together with the employee, communicating and 
     discussing progress relative to performance goals and 
     objectives and conducting performance appraisals;
       ``(ii) mentoring and motivating employees and improving 
     employee performance and productivity;
       ``(iii) effectively managing employees with unacceptable 
     performance;
       ``(iv) addressing reports of a hostile work environment, 
     reprisal, or harassment of, or by, another supervisor or 
     employee; and
       ``(v) otherwise carrying out the duties or responsibilities 
     of a supervisor;
       ``(B) a program to provide interactive instructor-based 
     training to supervisors on the prohibited personnel practices 
     under section 2302 (particularly with respect to such 
     practices described under subsection (b)(1) and (8) of that 
     section) and the procedures and processes used to enforce 
     employee rights; and
       ``(C) a program under which experienced supervisors mentor 
     new supervisors by--
       ``(i) transferring knowledge and advice in areas such as 
     communication, critical thinking, responsibility, 
     flexibility, motivating employees, teamwork, and professional 
     development; and
       ``(ii) pointing out strengths and areas for development.
       ``(c)(1) Not later than 1 year after the date on which an 
     individual is appointed to the position of supervisor, that 
     individual shall be required to have completed each program 
     established under subsection (b)(2).
       ``(2) After completion of a program under subsection (b)(2) 
     (A) and (B), each supervisor shall be required to complete a 
     program under subsection (b)(2) (A) and (B) at least once 
     during each 3-year period.
       ``(3) Each program established under subsection (b)(2) 
     shall include provisions under which credit shall be given 
     for periods of similar training previously completed.
       ``(d) Notwithstanding section 4118(c), the Office of 
     Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations to carry out 
     this section, including the monitoring of agency compliance 
     with this section.''.
       (b) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Office of Personnel Management 
     shall prescribe regulations in accordance with subsection (d) 
     of section 4121 of title 5, United States Code, as added by 
     subsection (a) of this section.
       (c) Effective Date and Application.--
       (1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall 
     take effect 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act 
     and apply to--
       (A) each individual appointed to the position of a 
     supervisor, as defined under section 4121(a) of title 5, 
     United States Code, (as added by subsection (a) of this 
     section) on or after that effective date; and
       (B) each individual who is employed in the position of a 
     supervisor on that effective date as provided under paragraph 
     (2).
       (2) Supervisors on effective date.--Each individual who is 
     employed in the position of a supervisor on the effective 
     date of this section shall be required to--
       (A) complete each program established under section 
     4121(b)(2) of title 5, United States Code (as added by 
     subsection (a) of this section), not later than 3 years after 
     the effective date of this section; and
       (B) complete programs every 3 years thereafter in 
     accordance with section 4121(c) (2) and (3) of such title.

     SEC. 3. MANAGEMENT COMPETENCY STANDARDS.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 43 of title 5, United States Code, 
     is amended--
       (1) by redesignating section 4305 as section 4306; and
       (2) inserting after section 4304 the following:

     ``Sec. 4305. Management competency standards

       ``(a) In this section, the term `supervisor' means--
       ``(1) a supervisor as defined under section 7103(a)(10);
       ``(2) a management official as defined under section 
     7103(a)(11); and
       ``(3) any other employee as the Office of Personnel 
     Management may by regulation prescribe.
       ``(b) The Office of Personnel Management shall issue 
     guidance to agencies on standards supervisors are expected to 
     meet in order to effectively manage, and be accountable for 
     managing, the performance of employees.
       ``(c) Each agency shall--
       ``(1) develop standards to assess the performance of each 
     supervisor and in developing such standards shall consider 
     the guidance developed by the Office of Personnel Management 
     under subsection (b) and any other qualifications or factors 
     determined by the agency;
       ``(2) assess the overall capacity of the supervisors in the 
     agency to meet the guidance developed by the Office of 
     Personnel Management issued under subsection (b); and
       ``(3) develop and implement a supervisor training program 
     to strengthen issues identified during such assessment.
       ``(d) Every year, or on any basis requested by the Director 
     of the Office of Personnel Management, each agency shall 
     submit a report to the Office on the progress of the agency 
     in implementing this section.''.
       (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--

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       (1) Table of sections.--The table of sections for chapter 
     43 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking the 
     item relating to section 4305 and inserting the following:

``4305. Management competency standards.
``4306. Regulations.''.
       (2) Reference.--Section 4304(b)(3) of title 5, United 
     States Code, is amended by striking ``section 4305'' and 
     inserting ``section 4306''.
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