February 18, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 33 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E191]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





  INTRODUCTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURTS AND PUBLIC DEFENDER 
          SERVICE VOLUNTARY SEPARATION INCENTIVE PAYMENTS ACT

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 18, 2020

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, today, I introduce the District of 
Columbia Courts and Public Defender Service Voluntary Separation 
Incentive Payments Act. This bill, which passed the House in the 114th 
Congress, would make a small but important change to the authorities of 
the District of Columbia Courts (D.C. Courts) and the Public Defender 
Service for the District of Columbia (PDS), giving them the same 
authority federal agencies and federal courts already have to offer 
voluntary separation incentive payments, or buyouts, to their 
employees.
  We were able to get buyout authority for the D.C. Courts and PDS in 
fiscal year 2020 in the recently enacted spending bill. However, my 
bill is necessary to make this authorization permanent. Buyouts would 
allow the D.C. Courts and PDS to respond to future administrative and 
budgetary needs, and would provide the flexibility to extend buyout 
offers to their employees.
  The U.S. Government Accountability Office has determined that 
voluntary separation incentive payments may be made only where 
statutorily authorized. Federal agencies and federal courts already 
have the statutory authority to offer buyouts, and there is no reason 
why the D.C. Courts and PDS should not have the same express authority 
in order to manage their workforce as budget conditions and needs 
change.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

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