Carolyn Maloney

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2551, the Artificial Intelligence Training for the Acquisition Workforce Act, sponsored by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Peters and Ranking Member Portman. I am proud to have introduced the House companion to this bill with Ranking Member Comer. The AI Training Act would require the Office of Management and Budget, in coordination with the General Services Administration, to develop and implement an AI training program for Federal workers whose jobs involve this technology, including acquisition and program management employees. The program would educate employees on the science underlying AI, introductory concepts, potential benefits of the technology, and future trends. Importantly, the program would also cover the risks posed by AI, including discrimination and risks to privacy, and would teach Federal workers how to mitigate these risks. To ensure that the AI technology procured and employed by the U.S. Government is reliable, safe, and trustworthy, it is critical that Federal workers involved in procurement and management of this technology are well-trained. AI tools have become essential in the global race to solve societal challenges, protect national security, and remain economically competitive. At the same time, the algorithms that drive AI systems present new challenges to oversight and accountability efforts. So we need proactive approaches to ensure transparency and governance that preserves privacy and civil liberties and protects the public interest. The training program would be updated at least every 2 years, ensuring it keeps up with the rapid evolution of this field. I thank Ranking Member Comer for joining me in advancing this legislation to require specialized Federal workforce training in AI that will help ensure the responsible acquisition and use of this technology that will have long-term benefits to the Government. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 2551, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers on this side, and if the gentleman is prepared to close, then I am also prepared to close.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague, Mr. Comer, for his help and assistance on this bill. We worked on it together. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of S. 2551, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6967) to implement merit-based reforms to the civil service hiring system that replace degree-based hiring with skills- and competency-based hiring, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 6967.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6967, the Chance to Compete Act. The bipartisan Chance to Compete Act was introduced by Representative Hice along with Representatives Khanna, Foxx, and Mfume. Representatives Mace and Subcommittee Chairman Connolly later joined the bill, as well. This bill aims to make evaluations more useful in assessing the skills of candidates for Federal positions and alleviate inefficiencies that have long hindered the hiring process. The bill turns away from the current reliance on self-assessment and attainment of an educational degree to determine candidate qualifications in the Federal hiring process. Instead, subject matter experts in agencies would design assessments that test knowledge specific to a position for which the agency is hiring. This overhaul to the assessment method would better match qualified applicants with positions and expand employment opportunities to candidates with more diverse professional and educational backgrounds. The Chance to Compete Act aligns with the Office of Personnel Management's guidance released in May to facilitate an executive order to modernize the process of assessing and hiring Federal job candidates. Establishing hiring methods that are more skills-based will improve agency managers' ability to hire people who possess the knowledge and experience to do the job and to hire from a wider array of qualified applicants. The bill also directs the Office of Personnel Management to create an online platform for sharing candidate assessments between agencies and maintain a portal for hiring managers to find candidates who have already demonstrated their qualifications for certain positions but were not hired. Under this legislation, agencies may assemble talent teams to support this assessment of job candidates and the hiring process. The OPM director would be required to submit annual progress reports to Congress on the use of the skills-based assessments. After 5 years, the Government Accountability Office would conduct a study of the implementation of the Federal job assessment reforms and their impact on the Federal hiring process. This bill streamlines the hiring process for Federal agencies and shortens the time it takes to bring new, well-qualified employees on board. The Senate companion to this bill, introduced by Senator Sinema, also enjoys bipartisan support. I thank Representative Hice for his leadership in introducing this bill that is the result of constructive collaboration by several members of our committee from both sides of the aisle. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting it, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 6967, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6967, the Chance to Compete Act. This bill is a good first step in reforming how we find and hire talent to the federal civil service and removes barriers that prevent agencies from recruiting the best talent. The bill specifically eliminates antiquated hiring assessment tools, improves federal agencies' hiring process, and allows qualified applicants to compete for open positions across government. This bill will move government away from a focus on academic parchment to a prioritization on skills and expertise. I'm proud to be a cosponsor of this bill, introduced by my Ranking Member Jody Hice and my Oversight colleague Ro Khanna. The bill came to us from the Senate, less than perfect and opposed by the Administration. But parties across both chambers worked together to draft an updated version of the bill that incorporates important feedback from the Office of Personnel Management and the Office of Management and Budget. As currently drafted, the bill would: Redefine competitive-service hiring applicant assessments to help agencies focus on candidates who can perform on the job. Put subject-matter experts at the helm of hiring, empowering those who can best distinguish practical performers from the field of candidates. Require OPM to begin a review of all federal ``duties'' that require an educational achievement level for hiring purposes, and then instructs OPM to make available online the data. Clarify to agencies, Congress, and the public why some positions, like a doctor at the Department of Veterans Affairs, must have an advanced degree, while a cybersecurity expert at the Department of Homeland Security would benefit from a seasoned specialist, trained from the field. Authorize ``talent teams'' in agency human resources offices-- ensuring each agency has a key group of staff focused on improving federal hiring. I thank Ranking Member Hice for working with me to improve this bill and ensure it is policy that all stakeholders, including the Administration and our union partners, believe will improve how we find and recruit talent to the federal government.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6267) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 15 Chestnut Street in Suffern, New York, as the ``Sergeant Gerald T. `Jerry' Donnellan Post Office''.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support today of H.R. 6267, authored by my good friend and colleague from the great State of New York. This bill will designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 15 Chestnut Street in Suffern, New York, as the Sergeant Gerald T. ``Jerry'' Donnellan Post Office. Sergeant Donnellan was born on December 18, 1946, in Nyack, New York, as the youngest of five children. He graduated from Albertus Magnus High School and went on to major in English at Rockland Community College and Texas A&M University. During the height of the Vietnam war, Sergeant Donnellan was drafted into the Army and began his basic training at Fort Gordon in Georgia. After several months, he was deployed to Vietnam. On the front lines, Sergeant Donnellan sustained life-threatening injuries after an enemy grenade exploded in front of him. While in recovery at Valley Forge, he received the Purple Heart. After recovery, Sergeant Donnellan worked in the Veterans Service Agency office of Rockland County as commissioner of veterans affairs until his retirement in January 2018. During his tenure, he created the local Chapter 333 of the Vietnam Veterans of America, started a veterans' health clinic, helped create Camp Shanks Museum in Orangetown, established the Rockland County Buffalo Soldiers Award to recognize the contributions of African- American veterans, and established the Rockland County Public Service Medal to honor those who served in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the global war on terror. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring Sergeant Donnellan, a Purple Heart recipient, by naming the post office after him. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Jones), the distinguished vice chair of the Committee on the Judiciary's Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague and friend, Mondaire Jones, for his leadership on this bill and so many other areas here in Congress. He certainly deserves this name-changing for the post office there. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 6267, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6080) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5420 Kavanaugh Boulevard in Little Rock, Arkansas, as the ``Ronald A. Robinson Post Office''.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6080 to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 5420 Kavanaugh Boulevard in Little Rock, Arkansas, as the Ronald A. Robinson Post Office. Mr. Robinson was a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where he earned a bachelor's degree in journalism. He went on to study public relations at Boston University's Graduate School of Public Communications. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a captain and was awarded a Bronze Star in Vietnam. He also received the Air Force Commendation Medal in 1969 for his support of the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon. Mr. Robinson, in 1970, joined the marketing and communications firm Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods. After 26 years, he retired from the firm as its chief executive officer. During his tenure, the firm became the largest advertising agency in Arkansas, with notable business and political clients. In 1993, he was appointed to the U.S. Postal Service's Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee by the U.S. Postmaster General. In 2005, Mr. Robinson was named chairman of that committee. During his 15 years serving on the committee, Mr. Robinson was involved in the creation and production of more than 1,750 postage stamp issues. He used his influence to highlight Arkansas in several of the newly issued postage stamps. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join in honoring Mr. Robinson by naming a post office in Little Rock, Arkansas, after him. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 6080, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the birthday of my dear friend Patti Askwith Kenner, who has dedicated her life to supporting women's civic participation, supporting the arts, and advancing Jewish causes. Patti Kenner is a native New Yorker who was born in New York City and raised in Harrison, New York. She is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in French. She subsequently earned a master's degree in Early Childhood Education from the Columbia University Teachers College. After 10 years as an educator, Ms. Kenner left teaching to join Campus Coach Lines, a charter bus company founded by her father in 1928. She continues to work at Campus Coach Lines to this day and currently serves as its President. In a city full of larger-than-life personalities, Ms. Kenner is one New York's most iconic civic leaders. She has been a consummate advocate for women's participation in politics and civic engagement. Ms. Kenner is also a devoted alumna of Carnegie Mellon and has given generously back to the school. She has served on the university's board of trustees for over 25 years and recently dedicated its Askwith Kenner Global Languages and Cultures Room. This amazing experiential space allows students to virtually travel the world and interact with people from different nations. Ms. Kenner is also a major supporter of education in New York. In 2019 she created the Patti Kenner Fellowship in Arts Education at Guild Hall, where she is also a longtime trustee. This fellowship has substantially enhanced youth educational programming at Guild Hall. Ms. Kenner has been dedicated to increasing awareness about the Holocaust and preserving its history. In 2011, Ms. Kenner produced a documentary about the renowned Jewish-American journalist Ruth Gruber, who documented life in Nazi Germany and was tasked by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to escort close to 1,000 refugees from Nazi- occupied Europe to the United States in 1944. She is currently working on another documentary focused on Swedish architect and humanitarian, Raoul Wallenberg, who saved tens of thousands of Jews in occupied Hungary at the end of World War II. In addition to these many accomplishments, Ms. Kenner serves on the boards of Defiant Requiem Foundation, the Museum of Jewish Heritage, the University Musical Society at the University of Michigan, the Educational Alliance, along with numerous other organizations and institutions. Madam Speaker, Ms. Kenner is a dear friend of mine who continues to inspire me with her tireless advocacy and activism. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the many contributions that Patti Kenner has made to New York City and wishing her every future success.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1339, I call up the bill (H.R. 302) to impose limits on excepting competitive service positions from the competitive service, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from Virginia.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials on the bill before us.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 302, the Preventing a Patronage System Act, introduced by Government Operations Subcommittee Chair Gerry Connolly along with Representative Brian Fitzpatrick. This straightforward bill affirms Congress' role in making major changes to the civil service system and ensures that no President can do so unilaterally. Now, that may sound simple, but this is critical to upholding the merit system principles that have been in place for almost 140 years and fortify the civil service of America. Career Federal workers serve both Democratic and Republican administrations. They do their jobs guided by their expertise and best judgment, not by allegiance to any political agenda. In 2020, former President Trump issued an executive order creating a new Federal employee classification in the excepted service called schedule F. Employees transferred to schedule F would have been stripped of workplace protections and converted to at-will employees. If the order had been fully implemented, it could have harmed tens of thousands of Federal employees. Agencies were directed to identify civil service positions with a policymaking function to convert to schedule F who would be more easily removed from their jobs for not rubberstamping the President's political agenda. Presumably, those positions could then be filled with people who would be more loyal to the President. Fortunately, one of the first things that President Biden did upon taking office was to revoke the schedule F executive order. But the order still shocked the Federal workforce. Such an attack against the integrity of the civil service should shock us all, particularly as Members of Congress. We depend on the Federal workforce to serve impartially and in accordance with the law. Schedule F would have instead put immense pressure on Federal workers to bend to the political whims of the President, even if it meant violating the law or Federal regulations. But this bill is not just about the past. It applies the lessons we learned from schedule F to prevent similar efforts to undermine the Federal workforce in the future, whether from a Republican or Democratic President. There are some who are ready and waiting to reinstitute a system like schedule F if given the opportunity. We must prevent that, and we can take a big step toward that today by passing the Preventing a Patronage System Act. Mr. Speaker, I commend Chairman Connolly for his leadership on this bill and for making it a bipartisan bill. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support it, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to respond to my colleagues who mentioned a problem with poor performers in the Federal workforce. Federal managers have tools now to remove poor performers when appropriate. In fact, over 10,000 Federal employees were removed last year from their jobs for poor performance. This bill does not change the removal process for employees who are not performing their jobs well, and schedule F was never about removing employees who are performing poorly. That policy was designed to intimidate and remove career employees who dared to provide impartial advice that may be perceived as contrary to an administration's political agenda. Civil servants are supposed to help administrations follow the law. So let's set the record straight about schedule F. It was intended to punish Federal employees doing their jobs ethically and legally. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly), the chairman of the Government Operations Subcommittee, and the author and sponsor of this bill.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the distinguished majority leader of the House of Representatives.