[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 112 (Wednesday, July 28, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1450]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      THE TELEWORK IMPROVEMENT ACT

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                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 28, 2010

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Telework 
Improvement Act. This bill will help to modernize the Federal 
Government by expanding and improving the availability of teleworking 
in federal agencies. I thank Chairman Towns and the House leadership 
for their work on this legislation.
  With this bill, Congress takes important steps to improve the 
efficiency of the Federal Government by allowing more Federal employees 
to have access to telework. Today, many private companies have more 
vigorous and flexible telework policies that result in increased 
efficiency and productivity. Yet telework continues to be under-
utilized by Federal agencies. H.R. 1722 will require Federal agencies 
to develop policies within one year that allow qualifying employees to 
telework. This bill ensures accountability by directing the Office of 
Management and Budget to issue guidelines to prevent improper uses of 
official time or resources by those working outside the office.
  Madam Speaker, I also oppose the Republican Motion to Recommit on 
H.R. 1722. The underlying legislation makes clear that Federal 
employees are strictly prohibited from visiting inappropriate websites 
using government computers. In addition, this motion contains a 
provision designed to indiscriminately and unfairly prohibit an 
employee from collective bargaining activities while they are 
teleworking. Under current law, official time for union activity may 
only be used to represent employees in adverse actions, attend official 
meetings with management, and bargain union contracts. To disallow 
these activities from being performed through telework would constitute 
a rollback of existing policy.
  I urge a ``no'' vote on the Republican Motion to Recommit and urge my 
colleagues to support final passage.

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