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Senior Executive Service Diversity Assurance Act

Date: June 3, 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Energy Natural Resources


SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE DIVERSITY ASSURANCE ACT -- (House of Representatives - June 03, 2008)

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Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on H.R. 3774, the Senior Executive Service Diversity Assurance Act.

In April of this year, the Department of Justice wrote to the committee raising a number of constitutional concerns with the introduced version of this legislation. While a number of changes were made to address these concerns during committee consideration of the legislation, some remained concerned that the legislation could still be vulnerable to constitutional challenges. For example, making demographic information about these senior executive service candidates and incumbents available for hiring purposes could suggest that this information should be taken into account in the selection process.

But I stand before you today to raise a concern much bigger than the state of our Federal workforce. I stand before you today to bring your attention to the woeful lack of attention that has been given this Congress to the skyrocketing gas prices throughout this Nation.

Throughout the country, for the first time in our history, a gallon of gas at local gas stations averages more than $4, and there appears to be no relief in sight for working class Americans.

House Republicans have introduced a comprehensive plan to lower gas prices and preserve energy independence. The Republican plan would increase the production of American-made energy in an environmentally safe way. It would promote new, clean, and reliable energy sources. It would cut red tape and increase the supply of American-made fuel and energy. And it would encourage greater efficiency by offering conservation tax incentives.

The Democrats, however, have no such plan to help American families and small businesses deal with their increasing pain at the pump.

At a time when our country is facing a serious crisis in energy prices, with all due respect to my colleague from Illinois, my assumption is that most Americans would prefer that we focus on solving America's energy woes, rather than spending valuable floor time debating the creation of various offices within the Office of Personnel Management.

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