Federal Managers Association

Press Release

• FMA ENDORSES HIRING REFORM LEGISLATION INTRODUCED IN THE SENATE - June 17, 2015

• Alexandria, VA - The Federal Managers Association (FMA) is proud to announce that Senators Jon Tester (D-MT), Rob Portman (R-OH), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) introduced the Competitive Service Act on Tuesday, June 16, which would improve the federal hiring process by allowing agencies to share their "best qualified" lists with other agencies. FMA endorsed this legislation and National President Patricia Niehaus advocated for it in testimony before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management in May. Below is President Niehaus' statement upon introduction:

  "FMA applauds the leadership Senators Tester, Portman, Cardin, Moran and Heitkamp have shown on this common sense reform. Enacting this legislation would provide agencies with access to highly qualified candidates who went through a rigorous competitive assessment, and would allow for much greater efficiency in the hiring process. At a time when the federal government is struggling to improve recruitment and retention, this tool would streamline the hiring process and remove a barrier for talented men and women.

  "In 2010, then-OPM Director John Berry called on Congress to allow agencies to share their lists of best qualified talent as part of a broader piece of legislation aimed at reforming the federal hiring process. This bill would allow agencies to review and select job candidates from another agency's best qualified list - a list of applicants who have already undergone a competitive assessment process and are certified as eligible for selection by an agency selecting official.

  "As an example, if an agency is looking to hire a Position Classification Specialist (PCS) that agency would be able to access a recent list of best-qualified candidates for a PCS position at any other agency. This tool would expand access to highly qualified candidates across the government and help streamline the hiring process, allowing agencies to recruit and hire top talent more easily. The legislation also requires that an agency provide up to ten days for their own employees to apply for the position and review those applications as part of the process to determine who is best qualified for the position. 

  "I am particularly pleased that not only is this a bipartisan measure, but soon to be bicameral, as Representatives Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and Rob Wittman (R-VA) plan to introduce companion legislation in the House later this week. I look forward to this bill being passed and signed into law." 

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