Introduction of A Bill to Ensure Fair Access and Opportunity to Federal Jobs for All Americans
Floor Speech
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Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bill to ensure fair access and opportunity to federal jobs for all Americans.
For close to two decades now, I and many of my colleagues have been fighting to increase diversity in the international affairs and national security sector. I have called for a diversity plan from the Director of National Intelligence, as well as for the Department of State and USAID. Last year, the House Armed Services Committee held a hearing entitled, ``Diversity in Recruiting and Retention: Increasing Diversity in the Military--What the Military Services are Doing.'' And only last week, Senators held an event bringing attention to the February Report: ``State Department: Additional Steps are Needed to Identify Potential Barriers to Diversity.'' My colleagues and I have been engaged in these efforts not because they are nice or correct, but because they are what is in the best interest for the survival of our nation.
The U.S. workforce is becoming more racially, ethnically, and otherwise diverse, with estimates that by 2050 over half of the workforce will be made up of Americans from diverse populations. Jobs across our government, whether they are in the military, intelligence, foreign service, health or education sectors, will require that we not only hire, but also retain a more diverse federal workforce to sustain the needs of our country and remain a stable democracy.
To do so, we must have a plan. My bill calls for a government-wide diversity and inclusion plan that ensures that all branches of government are engaged in multi-year strategic planning that recruits, hires, promotes, retains, and supports leadership from America's diverse talent pool in the federal workforce for the good of our country. It also calls for a review of diversity in government contracting and grantmaking, as both are often also pathways to government jobs.
Diversity and inclusion are the underpinnings of democratic societies. It is time that we enforce democratic values by ensuring all segments of our society have equal access and opportunity to contribute to a vibrant workforce that is at the heart of our democracy for the future of our nation.
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