[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 62 (Thursday, April 21, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E568]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURTS AND PUBLIC DEFENDER 
          SERVICE VOLUNTARY SEPARATION INCENTIVE PAYMENTS ACT

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 21, 2016

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the District of Columbia 
Courts and Public Defender Service Voluntary Separation Incentive 
Payments Act. The bill would make a minor change to the authorities of 
the District of Columbia Courts (D.C. Courts) and the Public Defender 
Service for the District of Columbia (PDS), placing these entities in 
the same position as their federal counterparts for more effective 
management and operation.
  The bill would give the D.C. Courts and PDS the same authority 
federal agencies and federal courts already have to offer voluntary 
separation incentive payments, or buyouts, to their employees. The 
fiscal year 2016 omnibus bill already gives D.C. Courts buyout 
authority--but my bill would make this authorization permanent, and 
would extend it to PDS in addition to the courts. Buyouts would allow 
the D.C. Courts and PDS to respond to their future administrative and 
budget needs, and would provide the flexibility to extend buyout offers 
to their employees.
  The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has determined that 
voluntary separation incentive payments may be made only where 
statutorily authorized. While federal agencies and federal courts have 
the statutory authority to offer buyouts, PDS and the D.C. Courts have 
not been expressly permitted to permanently provide them to their 
employees. PDS and the D.C. Courts seek the same buyout authority in 
order to manage their workforce as budget conditions and needs change.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

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