Calendar
November 2010 December 2010 January 2011
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31
There are no upcoming events currently scheduled.
View full calendar
Chairman Towns’ Remarks in Support of the Telework Enhancement Act PDF Print

For immediate release: Thursday, November 18, 2010
Contact: Oversight & Government Reform Press Office, 202-225-5051

Chairman Towns’ Remarks in Support of the Telework Enhancement Act


WASHINGTON – Chairman Edolphus “Ed” Towns (D-NY) delivered the following remarks in support of H.R. 1722, the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010:

As Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1722, the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010. 

 

Congratulations to Representative Sarbanes for his persistence and his hard work on this bill.  I also commend Mr. Lynch, the Chairman of the Federal Workforce Subcommittee, for his help in guiding this legislation through the process. 

 

H.R. 1722 will increase the federal government’s use of telework.  This will make the federal workforce more efficient and better prepared to handle an emergency.  Telework saves the government money, reduces energy consumption, and increases worker productivity. 

 

This bill passed the House by an overwhelming margin on July 14, 2010.  The Senate amended the bill and passed it by unanimous consent on September 29, 2010.   It is time for us to send this bill to the President for his signature.

 

The Senate’s changes to H.R. 1722 represent a compromise between the House-passed bill and Senate legislation introduced by Senators Akaka and Voinovich.  I fully support this bipartisan compromise. 

 

The Senate amendments include key provisions from the House bill including language drafted by the Ranking Member of the Oversight Committee, Representative Issa, and the Ranking Member of the Federal Workforce Subcommittee, Rep. Chaffetz.   The discussions that led to the compromise we have before us today included members from both sides of the aisle and both sides of the Capitol.  This bill is the fruit of an inclusive and comprehensive process. 

 

I strongly support this bipartisan, good government bill.  I urge all Members to support H.R. 1722, and yield back the balance of my time. 

 

###

 

Committee On Oversight and Government Reform

U.S. House of Representatives | 2157 Rayburn House Office Building | Washington, D.C. 20515 | (202) 225-5051