Telework Improvements Act of 2010

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1722, the Telework Improvements Act. This legislation is similar to a bill I introduced last Congress that passed the House with bipartisan support by voice vote. Unfortunately, the Senate never acted on that bill so I am pleased that we once again have the opportunity to move telework legislation forward with the leadership of Representative Sarbanes.

We currently know that telework continues to be underutilized by Federal agencies and improvements are needed to allow more Federal employees to participate in telework programs.

Telework provides numerous benefits including increased flexibilities for both employers and employees, continuity of operations during emergency events--as noted by the massive snow storms that shut down the government during February, yet saved the government an estimated $30 million each day and decreased energy use and air pollution by minimizing the amount of congestion on the roads.

Study after study has shown these benefits to be paramount to making the Federal Government more efficient, productive, and prepared. However, a top information security officer at the State Department recently stated: ``the real national security issue is if we had something that disrupted the ability of the Federal workforce to get to the office, could we continue to provide the services of government? I think you'd find that many departments and agencies would have problems.'' This speaks to

the need and importance of the passage of this bill.

In addition, according to a survey of Patent and Trademark Office employees, 80 percent of employees who telework report that the flexibility of working at home has allowed them to decrease the amount of sick leave used by at least 8 hours per year.

Since the 109th Congress, my office has aggressively participated in the Telework program and created a more worker friendly environment for our working families.

The attributes of teleworking alone allows greater flexibility for these parents while increasing a better work attitude and work product. I encourage all Members of Congress to get more involved in the Telework program in the future as we move to make a more efficient and productive government.

I am pleased to join Representative Sarbanes in supporting H.R. 1722.

Plus, we've heard the tremendous cost savings that exist, as well as the anti-pollution measures that take place, but I feel very fortunate in my office to have had individuals who have effectively used telework, I guess to the nth degree; and it has proven to be not only cost savings, but it also has provided them the opportunity to spend time with young children, with their families to the extent they needed to do. This gives us an opportunity to recruit the best and the brightest and have them be productive. It is a great measure. I am pleased to support it.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT.

Source