[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 157 (Wednesday, September 27, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S4717]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            MORNING BUSINESS

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                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                        75TH ANNIVERSARY OF SHRM

 Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I rise today to salute the Society 
for Human Resource Management, known today simply by its initials SHRM.
  For 75 years, SHRM has contributed to opportunity in our Nation's 
workforce. The human resource profession emerged in the early 20th 
century and was known as ``Personnel Administration,'' as personnel 
departments over time began developing hiring procedures and employee 
handbooks to manage personnel according to fair, consistent policies. 
In 1948, the American Society for Personnel Administration--ASPA--was 
born. By 1950, ASPA had 130 members and launched Personnel News, which 
eventually became HR Magazine and remains one of the Nation's longest 
running association publications. In 1954, the term ``human resources'' 
emerged, reinforcing the value of the profession. In 1964, ASPA 
launched a nationwide student chapter program, which today hosts 
chapters at more than 200 colleges and universities. This period also 
saw the creation of SHRM's research arm to advance higher standards of 
performance in personnel administration. SHRM Research is now a leader 
in studies focused on the intersection of people and work.
  In 1966, the association created the ASPA Foundation to mobilize 
members for positive change. Today, the SHRM Foundation supports 
initiatives on topics like mental health and wellness, inclusive 
workplaces, and military veterans. In 1968, as ASPA turned 20, its 
leaders made a commitment to articulate a defined body of HR knowledge. 
The ASPA Accreditation Institute was born; in 1976, the first HR 
certification exam was given to 80 test takers, and today, more than 
120,000 people are SHRM-certified.
  In 1973, ASPA opened its first DC office, and that same year and for 
the first time, ASPA provided testimony in a congressional hearing on 
pending legislation, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
  In 1984, with national legislation becoming a growing focus for ASPA 
the association moved its national headquarters to Alexandria, VA. 
Today, SHRM has approximately 275 Alexandria-based employees located on 
its multibuilding campus, with another 75 employees across the United 
States. SHRM has 18 chapters throughout Virginia and approximately 
11,148 Virginia human resource professionals and business executives 
who play an active role in this vibrant trade association. SHRM 
Government Affairs has since become the go-to source for workplace 
legislative and legal issues. Today, the SHRM Advocacy Team includes 
more than 17,000 HR professionals in all 435 congressional districts 
who inform public officials on how legislation will impact employers 
and employees. Today, SHRM has offices in eight locations worldwide 
servicing members in 165 countries.
  Finally, in 2020, the HR profession faced its biggest challenge 
ever--and rose to the moment. The COVID-19 pandemic gave HR 
professionals the opportunity to lead their organizations through every 
phase of the public health crisis and helped inform businesses and 
policymakers on the changing landscape of work and offer thoughtful 
advice on the evolving human resources issues brought on by the 
pandemic.
  Over the past 75 years, SHRM has become the voice of all things work. 
Their long history of advocacy before State and local government and 50 
years of advocacy of workforce policy before the Congress, Federal 
Agencies, and the executive branch in the United States. Today, I 
salute the association and its 325,000 members for their positive 
impact on our Nation.

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