[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 44 (Friday, March 16, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E372]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING NATIONAL TELEWORK WEEK, MARCH 5 9

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                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 16, 2012

  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, March 5 9 was National 
Telework Week, a prime opportunity to celebrate the progress we have 
made implementing telework policy after passage of the Telework 
Enhancements Act of 2010.
  More than 63,000 people pledged to telework last week, eliminating 
more than 5.7 million pounds of carbon dioxide pollution and are saving 
$4.7 million in transportation expenses. As oil speculation and 
international uncertainty drives gas prices higher, telework becomes a 
more important tool for consumers to protect themselves against high 
gas prices.
  Although private sector employers like AT&T and IBM pioneered 
telework, federal agencies are catching up under the direction of the 
Telework Enhancements Act. More than 95% of the 63,000 people who 
pledged to telework are federal employees. Agencies like USDA are 
making great progress expanding telework participation, while agencies 
like GSA and PTO already are saving taxpayer money by avoiding 
construction of new offices through use of telework arrangements.
  As a result of my amendment to the Telework Enhancement Act, all 
agencies must incorporate telework into their Continuity of Operations 
Plans (COOP), which will better prepare us to respond to a natural 
disaster or terrorist attack. During the record blizzards two years 
ago, federal employees saved taxpayers $30 million in a single week by 
continuing to work through telework arrangements even while the streets 
and Metro were closed by several feet of snow. By expanding telework 
participation in other agencies we can create additional cost savings 
and ensure that the Federal Government keeps operating even in the 
event of a terrorist attack.
  These success stories are only possible because of partnerships 
between federal agencies, advocacy groups like the Telework Exchange 
and the Partnership for Public Service, and private sector companies 
which provide the technology to enable telework. I applaud the 
collective effort of agencies, advocates, and contractors to implement 
telework policies. Telework will be one of the essential workforce 
management tools for recruiting the next generation of federal 
employees.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating federal 
agencies and our private-sector partners on the progress being made to 
expand the use of telework. National Telework Week offers us an 
opportunity to highlight the success of these efforts and to expand 
upon them.

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