Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., has proposed a bipartisan bill that seeks to rebuild and modernize the Office of Personnel Management.
Connolly’s office said Tuesday the Strengthening the Office of Personnel Management Act would clarify the agency’s mission as the center of the federal government’s civilian human resources systems and establish a federal advisory committee to help the director of OPM understand the concerns and needs of stakeholders to inform the agency’s policymaking efforts and operations.
The proposed measure would require candidates for the OPM director post to have leadership and human capital expertise and ensure that the chief management officer of the agency is a career civil servant who could provide stability and continuity across administrations.
Reps. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., chair of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., co-sponsored the legislation that is being backed by several organizations, including the National Treasury Employees Union and the National Federation of Federal Employees.
“Federal employees are the crown jewel of government, and we must build a human resources agency nimble and prepared to help us attract and retain the talent our nation needs to provide vital services today and into the future,” Connolly said.
