[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Pages 4769-4770]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 497--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT PUBLIC 
SERVANTS SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND CONTINUED SERVICE 
TO THE NATION DURING PUBLIC SERVICE RECOGNITION WEEK, MAY 5 THROUGH 11, 
                                  2008

  Mr. AKAKA (for himself, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Lieberman, Ms. Collins, 
Mr. Levin, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Carper, Mr. Warner, Mr. Obama, and Mrs. 
McCaskill) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs:

                              S. Res. 497

       Whereas Public Service Recognition Week provides an 
     opportunity to recognize and promote the important 
     contributions of public servants and honor the diverse men 
     and women who meet the needs of the Nation through work at 
     all levels of government;
       Whereas millions of individuals work in government service 
     in every city, county, and State across America and in 
     hundreds of cities abroad;
       Whereas public service is a noble calling involving a 
     variety of challenging and rewarding professions;
       Whereas Federal, State, and local governments are 
     responsive, innovative, and effective because of the 
     outstanding work of public servants;
       Whereas the United States of America is a great and 
     prosperous Nation, and public service employees contribute 
     significantly to that greatness and prosperity;
       Whereas the Nation benefits daily from the knowledge and 
     skills of these highly trained individuals;
       Whereas public servants--
       (1) defend our freedom and advance United States interests 
     around the world;
       (2) provide vital strategic support functions to our 
     military and serve in the National Guard and Reserves;
       (3) fight crime and fires;
       (4) ensure equal access to secure, efficient, and 
     affordable mail service;
       (5) deliver social security and medicare benefits;
       (6) fight disease and promote better health;
       (7) protect the environment and the Nation's parks;
       (8) enforce laws guaranteeing equal employment opportunity 
     and healthy working conditions;
       (9) defend and secure critical infrastructure;
       (10) help the Nation recover from natural disasters and 
     terrorist attacks;
       (11) teach and work in our schools and libraries;
       (12) develop new technologies and explore the earth, moon, 
     and space to help improve our understanding of how our world 
     changes;
       (13) improve and secure our transportation systems;
       (14) promote economic growth; and
       (15) assist active duty service members and veterans;
       Whereas members of the uniformed services and civilian 
     employees at all levels of government make significant 
     contributions to the general welfare of the United States, 
     and are on the front lines in the fight against terrorism and 
     in maintaining homeland security;
       Whereas public servants work in a professional manner to 
     build relationships with other countries and cultures in 
     order to better represent America's interests and promote 
     American ideals;
       Whereas public servants alert Congress and the public to 
     government waste, fraud, abuse, and dangers to public health;
       Whereas the men and women serving in the Armed Forces of 
     the United States, as well as those skilled trade and craft 
     Federal employees who provide support to their efforts, are 
     committed to doing their jobs regardless of the 
     circumstances, and contribute greatly to the security of the 
     Nation and the world;
       Whereas public servants have bravely fought in armed 
     conflict in defense of this Nation and its ideals and deserve 
     the care and benefits they have earned through their 
     honorable service;
       Whereas government workers have much to offer, as 
     demonstrated by their expertise and innovative ideas, and 
     serve as examples by passing on institutional knowledge to 
     train the next generation of public servants;
       Whereas May 5 through 11, 2008, has been designated Public 
     Service Recognition Week to honor America's Federal, State, 
     and local government employees; and
       Whereas Public Service Recognition Week is celebrating its 
     24th anniversary through job fairs, student activities, and 
     agency exhibits: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commends public servants for their outstanding 
     contributions to this great Nation during Public Service 
     Recognition Week and throughout the year;
       (2) salutes government employees for their unyielding 
     dedication and spirit for public service;
       (3) honors those government employees who have given their 
     lives in service to their country;
       (4) calls upon a new generation to consider a career in 
     public service as an honorable profession; and
       (5) encourages efforts to promote public service careers at 
     all levels of government.

  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise to introduce a resolution honoring 
the dedication, commitment, and noble service of Federal, State, and 
local government employees during Public Service Recognition Week.
  For the past 23 years, the first full week of May is reserved to 
recognize the men and women of the military and civilian workforces 
diligently serving our Nation and celebrate their achievements.
  Throughout the history of this Nation, public servants have been the 
first in many fields. Public servants are the first to respond to an 
emergency. They were the first to walk on the moon, the first to 
subnavigate the North Pole, and the driving force behind the creation 
of the Internet. However, there are lesser known achievements of public 
servants that improve all of our lives. Researchers at NIH were the 
first to make a discovery that lead to the Human Papillomavirus 
vaccine. They were the first to create a program allowing States and 
localities to analyze DNA evidence on thousands of cases. And, they 
have been the first to discover hormones produced by the heart that 
have profound benefits in treating many deadly diseases.
  Public Service Recognition Week is a time for all Americans to 
recognize the contributions which public servants make to this country 
that are often overlooked. We are familiar with the police officers who 
patrol our streets, the teachers who teach our children, the public 
officials we elect to govern, and the war fighters so bravely defending 
our country. However, there are many other public servants who protect 
and care for our National Parks, provide care to veterans, protect the 
water we drink, build the roads we drive on, archive American history 
and the American experience, and curate our public museums that work 
behind the scenes without much attention or praise. These are just some 
of the silent servants who are the backbone of America.
  Public servants have chosen a career path that does not often exalt 
or glorify their work. We rarely hear about the support the civilians 
in the Department of Defense are providing to the military during this 
time of war or the doctors and nurses at the Veterans' Affairs 
Administration who provide care to the many men and women returning 
home from combat while struggling with insufficient resources. PSR week 
is a time we thank them for their service and recognize their efforts.
  This week is not just a time for us to honor their work, but a time 
for us to get to know the groundbreaking efforts made by the military 
and civil servants. Across the country, mayors, State governments, 
Governors, county governments, and many other civic organizations are 
participating in Public Service Recognition Week through proclamations, 
honorary events, awards, and exhibits. In Washington,

[[Page 4770]]

DC, Federal agencies are coming together on the National Mall to 
demonstrate to the public all that they do for America. The military 
will show its might with planes, helicopters, tanks, and other 
machinery located throughout the exhibit. The civil service will show 
innovations in scientific research, advances in criminal detection and 
law enforcement, and ways it is improving the lives of Americans 
everyday.
  We sit on the edge of great change in the Federal workforce. 
According to the Office of Personnel Management, an estimated 40 
percent of the 1.8 million federal employees will retire in the next 10 
years as many more become eligible to retire. According to a number of 
recent reports published by the Partnership for Public Service, we know 
that young people want meaning in their careers. They can find both 
meaning and nobility in public service. Our challenge is to show the 
next generation of employees that public service offers a range of 
options for meaningful experiences and dynamic opportunities.
  As we celebrate the 24th annual Public Service Recognition Week May 
5-11, I encourage all Americans to take time out of their busy 
schedules to learn more about the work of public servants and recognize 
them for their commitment and dedication.

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