B-167710, NOV 14, 1979
Highlights
THIS BILL WAS ORIGINALLY INTRODUCED ON MARCH 29. ITS PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO GIVE THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE AS MUCH INDEPENDENCE FROM THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AS IS FEASIBLE - AN INDEPENDENCE WHICH WE HAVE LONG BELIEVED IS ESSENTIAL TO INSURE THE INTEGRITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE WORK WE DO IN ASSISTING THE CONGRESS WITH THE OVERSIGHT OF EXECUTIVE BRANCH PROGRAMS. WAS INTRODUCED AT OUR REQUEST IN THE SENATE ON OCTOBER 11. PRYOR IS ALSO CONSIDERING S. 1879. A COPY OF THIS LETTER IS BEING SENT TO SENATOR GLENN AND SENATOR PRYOR.
B-167710, NOV 14, 1979
PRECIS-UNAVAILABLE
ABRAHAM A. RIBICOFF, UNITED STATES SENATE:
THIS RESPONDS TO YOUR REQUEST OF OCTOBER 30, 1979, FOR OUR COMMENTS ON H.R. 5176, THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE PERSONNEL ACT OF 1979 - A BILL TO ESTABLISH AN INDEPENDENT PERSONNEL SYSTEM FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE.
THIS BILL WAS ORIGINALLY INTRODUCED ON MARCH 29, 1979, AS H.R. 3339 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BY CHAIRMAN JAMES M. HANLEY OF THE COMMITTEE ON POST OFFICE AND CIVIL SERVICE, AT OUR REQUEST. ITS PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO GIVE THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE AS MUCH INDEPENDENCE FROM THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AS IS FEASIBLE - AN INDEPENDENCE WHICH WE HAVE LONG BELIEVED IS ESSENTIAL TO INSURE THE INTEGRITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE WORK WE DO IN ASSISTING THE CONGRESS WITH THE OVERSIGHT OF EXECUTIVE BRANCH PROGRAMS.
DURING THE CONSIDERATION OF THIS LEGISLATION IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WE WORKED EXTENSIVELY WITH MEMBERS OF THE STAFF OF THE COMMITTEE ON POST OFFICE AND CIVIL SERVICE AND OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON CIVIL SERVICE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT IN ACHIEVING THIS DESIRED INDEPENDENCE WE DID NOT JEOPARDIZE THE BENEFITS OR RIGHTS OF OUR EMPLOYEES. WE BELIEVE THAT THE REVISED BILL, H.R. 5176, INTRODUCED BY SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRWOMAN PATRICIA SCHROEDER AND PASSED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON OCTOBER 15, 1979, ADEQUATELY SERVES THE NEEDS OF THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE AND AT THE SAME TIME FULLY PROTECTS ITS EMPLOYEES.
SIMILAR LEGISLATION, S. 1879, WAS INTRODUCED AT OUR REQUEST IN THE SENATE ON OCTOBER 11, 1979, BY CHAIRMAN JOHN GLENN OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY, NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION, AND FEDERAL SERVICES, COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS. THAT SUBCOMMITTEE HELD HEARINGS ON THAT BILL ON OCTOBER 16, 1979. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON CIVIL SERVICE AND GENERAL SERVICES UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF SENATOR DAVID H. PRYOR IS ALSO CONSIDERING S. 1879.
WE STRONGLY ENDORSE THE ENACTMENT OF THIS LEGISLATION, AND WE RESPECTFULLY URGE THAT THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS FAVORABLY REPORT IT TO THE SENATE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. IF WE CAN BE OF ANY ASSISTANCE IN THIS REGARD, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
A COPY OF THIS LETTER IS BEING SENT TO SENATOR GLENN AND SENATOR PRYOR.