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Washington, D.C.—With the federal civilian workforce virtually as small today as it has been in the modern era, the federal government has to be prepared to compete for the best and brightest college graduates, the head of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) told a key Senate subcommittee today.

That competition—particularly in the wake of looming federal retirements—underscores that fair pay, affordable health insurance and a stable retirement program are key to the government’s ability to recruit and retain the talent agencies will need, Kelley told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce.

The subcommittee was conducting a hearing on the importance of investing in the federal workforce.

“Many of the agencies where NTEU represents employees are under virtual hiring freezes and operating with limited resources,” she said, adding that while agencies can make great strides through automation and other cost-savings tools, “much of the work of the federal government requires people—talented and educated people.”

President Kelley noted that while in 1953, there was one federal employee for every 78 U.S. residents, the ratio in 2009 was one for every 147 residents—and that skill and education levels have risen exponentially, as have the demands placed upon them in their work.

“The federal employees represented by NTEU are budget analysts overseeing multi-billion-dollar budgets; physicians undertaking cutting edge research to cure deadly diseases; law enforcement officers guarding our borders; and scientists safeguarding our food and water,” she said.

President Kelley took the occasion of her testimony to praise the work and legacy of subcommittee chairman, Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), a long-time and strong supporter of federal employees who is retiring after serving 36 years in Congress—22 as a senator.

“You have been a stalwart friend of federal employees,” she told Sen. Akaka. “Your advocacy on behalf of the federal workforce—from your efforts to ensure fair pay and benefits to your actions to protect collective bargaining rights—will be sorely missed by federal employees everywhere.”

President Kelley identified just a handful of Sen. Akaka’s important accomplishments on behalf the federal workforce:

• Securing retirement equity for federal workers, like those in Hawaii, Alaska and U.S. territories, who received no credit toward retirement for their non-foreign cost-of-living adjustments;

• Helping agencies compete for the best talent by working to simplify and improve the federal hiring process;

• Bringing much-needed attention to the impact on retirees of the lengthy processing period for federal annuity payments by the Office of Personnel Management;

• Taking a leadership role in making sure agencies use the full range of workplace flexibilities, including recruitment and retention bonuses, relocation assistance, help with student loans and flexible schedules;

• Working to secure landmark legislation expanding telework opportunities throughout the federal workplace;

• Winning a change in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) permitting employees covered by that system to include unused sick leave in determining their length of service and computing their retirement benefit;

• Continuing and strong support for increased training and mentoring throughout government; and

• Playing a key role in Senate passage of legislation restoring and expanding protections for federal employees who disclose waste, fraud and abuse.

“It has been a distinct honor and privilege to work with you,” President Kelley told the senator at the hearing.

As the largest independent federal union, NTEU represents 150,000 employees in 31 agencies and departments.