[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 79 (Tuesday, May 7, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3500-S3501]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    PUBLIC SERVICE RECOGNITION WEEK

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, this week, we celebrate Public Service 
Recognition Week. Each year since 1985, this special week has been 
observed in honor of our Nation's public servants. Today, I would like 
to express my sincerest appreciation for the 20.2 million Federal, 
State, county, and local public servants in the United States of 
America.
  Our country relies on the critical work of the everyday heroes in the 
public sector workforce, and we owe them a debt of gratitude for their 
steadfast service. From astronauts to astrophysicists, caseworkers to 
court clerks, detectives to doctors, servicemembers to superintendents, 
teachers to transit workers, America's public servants comprise one of 
our Nation's most critical and often maligned assets. Every American 
feels the impact of the crucial work public servants perform in all 
aspects of their lives. Thanks to first responders, servicemembers, 
social workers, and every public servant in between, over 330 million 
Americans can rest knowing their loved ones are protected, the rule of 
law is respected, and that the public sector is here to make their 
lives more effective.
  The talented public servants who tirelessly work to improve our 
Nation and the lives of the people who comprise it are amongst the 
bravest and most honorable individuals on the globe.
  On their first day of school, our children are entrusted to the 
teachers who provide them an educational foundation to guide them 
throughout their lives. When a novel disease impacts our communities, 
it is researchers who innovate and pursue medical solutions, as our 
doctors, nurses, and EMTs care for patients on the frontlines. It is 
our postal workers who deliver critical checks, medication, and 
information to our veterans and seniors who await the arrival of 
benefits they have earned.
  America's public servants demonstrate their commitment to their 
communities in a diverse set of essential roles. What all members of 
the public sector workforce have in common, though, is their motivation 
to help our Nation progress and prosper.
  The public sector workforce--particularly at the Federal level--have 
a sense of duty and a love of their community and country that compel 
them. So many public servants could earn higher salaries in private 
sector jobs, but their motivation is more than pecuniary gain.
  At the heart of the U.S. Government are civil servants, individuals 
who are classified as nonpartisan career Federal employees. These 
public servants are not committed to a particular ideology or political 
figure in their official capacity. In recent years, however, these 
folks have faced threats to their civil service status at the hands of 
the very partisan influence they are supposed to be protected from.
  Civil servants elect to work for the American people first, and they 
deserve the opportunity to carry out their service without fear of 
being relieved of duties or retaliation based on nonallegiance to a 
political party. That is why I commend the Biden administration and the 
Office of Personnel Management for issuing the final rule in opposition 
to the previous administration's Schedule F classification.
  Our civil servants honorably serve our Nation without political fear 
or favor. OPM's reiteration of support for nonpartisan Federal employee 
protections is a crucial victory, not only for the 2.2 million 
individuals currently under this classification but for every American 
and the integrity of our institutions.
  Every year, the Samuel J. Heyman Public Service to America Medals are 
awarded to esteemed Federal employees who are recognized by their 
Agency colleagues and the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service for 
their distinguished service. This year, the seventh State admitted to 
the Union--my home State of Maryland--is proud to celebrate seven 
outstanding individuals nominated as finalists. All of them are highly 
deserving of recognition for their service.
  Today, I would like to take a moment to thank these Marylanders:

       Wanda Brown and Darnita Trower of the Internal Revenue 
     Service; Judy Chen and Jay Evans of the USDA Agricultural 
     Research Service; Hari Kalla of the Federal

[[Page S3501]]

     Highway Administration; Marc Levitan of the National 
     Institute of Standards and Technology; and Janet Woodcock of 
     the Food and Drug Administration.

  I thank them for their exceptional service to the American people.
  Just 7 percent of America's Federal workers are under the age of 30. 
I join President Biden in urging young Americans to consider careers in 
public service. We need your talents, your energy, your ideas, and your 
idealism to ensure that America remains prosperous, secure, and a 
beacon of liberty for all humanity.
  I hope we can all agree that we want the best and brightest to serve. 
These individuals and their fellow honorees represent the best our 
Federal workforce has to offer. But we should be grateful for all 
public servants who are in every State and Territory of our country and 
who go to work each day determined to make a positive difference for 
their fellow Americans. We should be grateful all year long.

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