FEDERAL WORKFORCE RETENTION PROBLEMS

3/29/2001

THE SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT OF GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT, RESTRUCTURING AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OF SENATE GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AND THE HOUSE CIVIL SERVICE SUBCOMMITTEE OF HOUSE GOVERNMENT REFORM COMMITTEE

Chairman Voinovich, Chairman Scarborough, Ranking Members Durbin and Davis, distinguished members of the subcommittees, I would like to thank the Senate Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, Restructuring and the District of Columbia and the House Subcommittee on Civil Service for the opportunity to include my written comments regarding the United States Commission on National Security report titled; “Road Map for National Security: Imperative for Change.” I also would like to thank the Co-Chairs of the Commission, Gary Hart and Warren B. Rudman and Commissioners Harry D. Train and James Schlesinger for bringing attention to reexamining U.S. National Security policies and the organizations that carry out these policies.

As President of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), I have the honor of leading a union which represents over 12,000 Customs employees who are stationed at 301 ports of entry across the United States. Customs inspectors and CEO’s make up our nation’s first line of defense in the war on drugs. In addition to this primary mission, they are responsible for stopping sophisticated and dangerous narcotics smuggling, international money-launderers, arms smugglers, child pornographers, fugitives from justice and international terrorists from entering our country.

With a FY2001 budget of approximately $1.8 billion and over 17,000 employees, U.S. Customs continues to be one of the Nation’s premier border agencies with a very unique mission. Not only do the employees of the U.S. Customs Service interdict drugs but they also ensure that all goods and persons entering and exiting the United States do so in compliance with all U.S. laws and regulations at 301 points of entry. Customs also has a mission as a revenue collection agency, which is why it should remain under the jurisdiction of the Treasury Department. Customs collects an estimated $22 billion a year in revenue through applying the tariff and various trade programs on over 25 million entry summaries involving over $1.3 trillion in international trade every year.

One of the main thrusts of the Hart/Rudman report is that, “Sound organization is important. It can ensure that problems reach their proper level of decision quickly and efficiently.” The report also states that, “Most important, good organization helps assure accountability.” I couldn’t agree more with these statements, but where I disagree is how the report achieves its goals of “sound organization and accountability.”

In the executive summary, the Commission, “recommends the creation of a new independent National Homeland Security Agency (NHSA). Its responsibilities would include planning, coordinating, and integrating various U.S. government activities involved in homeland security. NHSA would be built upon the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), with the three organizations currently on the front line of border security: the Customs Service, the Coast Guard and the Border Patrol being transferred to the NHSA.” The main reason being stated for this choice is that FEMA, “would provide a focal point for all natural and manmade crisis and emergency planning scenarios.” The NHSA would also retain and strengthen FEMA’s 10 existing regional offices as a core element of its organizational structure. I believe this proposal is seriously flawed.

First, transferring the three listed organizations would cause logistical and institutional chaos. Yes, these organizations deal with front line border security, but in very different capacities. Agencies as unique as Customs, the Coast Guard and Border Patrol being put under an institutional structure such as FEMA’s would be a recipe for disaster. Each of these agencies’ missions is unique and should remain in their current structure.

For example, Customs, as stated in the report, is charged with preventing contraband from entering the U.S. as well as preventing terrorists from using commercial or private transportation venues of international trade for smuggling explosives or weapons of mass destruction into or out of the U.S. The Customs Service is also responsible with collecting over $22 billion in trade revenue each year. Whereas, the Border Patrol’s primary mission is the detection and prevention of illegal entry into the United States between ports of entry and the Coast Guard is tasked with maritime search and rescue missions among other important functions.

Second, the structure of FEMA has nothing to do with law enforcement or revenue collection, the two main missions of the U.S. Customs Service. Since its inception FEMA’s main mission has been to respond and assist citizens who have been victims of natural or manmade disasters as well as providing emergency management planning. FEMA fulfills this mission better than any organization in the world and it should be able to continue to do so. Adding law enforcement and revenue collection responsibilities to FEMA’s mission would create a logistical and bureaucratic mess.

In Customs’ case, no one doubts that the level of conveyances, cargo and passengers has increased dramatically over the last five years, but combining Customs within FEMA and the other 2 agencies mentioned in the report would be a grave mistake. What Customs, and the other two agencies need in order to successfully carry out their intended missions is greater funding. The report recommends, and I agree, that, “Congress recapitalize the Customs Service, so it can confidently perform its role.”

The dedicated employees of the U.S Customs Service are a highly trained and professional workforce. All these federal employees are asking is that proper funding is requested from the President and addressed by the U.S. Congress. Each year agencies such as Customs, are being asked to do more with less money and this practice has to stop.

If the American public expects its borders to be properly defended let the government show the public that they are serious about threats to the borders. The government can achieve this by fully funding all agencies tasked with defending the borders and laws of the United States. No organizational structure change will be successful, no matter how good it may look on paper, if the government does not provide proper funding for its agencies to be effective.

Thank you for the opportunity to share NTEU’s thoughts on this very important issue. I look forward to working with the Committee on this and many other issues related to federal employees.