 |
by Shaw, Bransford & Roth, P.C.
Archives
Concerned about "an unprecedented workforce crisis" that threatens to undermine the federal government's ability to meet the needs of the country, two House lawmakers introduced legislation last Thursday that will award graduate-level scholarships for students who commit to public service. The bill is intended to address the impending "talent shortage" within the government, said Reps. David Price (D-North Carolina) and Christopher Shays (R-Connecticut). Approximately one-third of the government's top scientists, engineers, physicians, mathematicians, economists, and other highly specialized professionals will be retiring in the next five years, according to the Office of Personnel Management. And a recent study by the Partnership for Public Service shows that federal agencies will need to fill 193,000 mission-critical positions by 2009. (Mission-critical positions are those a federal agency identifies as essential to achieving its core functions). Unfortunately, the lawmakers say, the flow of talent stepping forward to replace these valuable federal employees continues to dwindle.
The Price-Shays bill would initiate a major recruitment effort to fill the needs of the services that Americans depend upon. The "Roosevelt Scholars Act," named after the father of the modern civil service, Theodore Roosevelt, will: (1) create an elite new scholarship program to fund graduate-level study in exchange for a civil service commitment in targeted, mission-critical occupational areas across the federal government; and (2) establish a Foundation to administer the application process, selection of scholars, and ongoing support activities associated with these scholarships.
"What we're dealing with is a crisis of capacity - the government's capacity to continue providing the services that Americans depend upon," said Price, who is co-chair of the Congressional Service Caucus. "In the face of a dwindling professional workforce, we must act now to recruit the scientists, engineers, and other high-level experts who make our government work. Our initiative would mobilize the country's colleges and universities to address this very acute challenge."
"As the cost of college and graduate studies escalate, we need to ensure public sector positions remain a viable option for our nation's best and brightest students," said Shays. "To attract tomorrow's leaders to public sector positions, we need to provide resources, like tuition assistance, in order for these jobs to compete with the salaries available to top-notch employees in the private sector. The Roosevelt Scholars program will create a new scholarship to fund graduate-level study in exchange for a federal service commitment in targeted, ‘mission critical' occupational areas across the federal government. I can't think of a better investment the federal government can make than in training and invigorating its future leaders."
The Roosevelt Scholars program would provide full tuition, support for room and board, and a stipend for graduate study. In exchange for this support, Roosevelt Scholars would complete an internship with a federal agency and, upon graduation, complete a minimum of three years of civil service.
Price and Shays added that the foundation and scholarship program would help restore prestige to civil service and turn the federal government into a place where the best and brightest go to make a difference.
You can read the legislation, which has not yet been assigned a bill number, by visiting the House of Representatives website.
« back to previous page
|
|
