Rep. Bennie Thompson Holds a Hearing On Diversity at the Department of Homeland Security

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Rep. Bennie Thompson Holds a Hearing On Diversity at the Department of Homeland Security

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY HOLDS A HEARING ON DIVERSITY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

MAY 21, 2008

SPEAKERS: REP. BENNIE THOMPSON, D-MISS. CHAIRMAN REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ, D-CALIF. REP. EDWARD J. MARKEY, D-MASS. REP. NORM DICKS, D-WASH. REP. JANE HARMAN, D-CALIF. REP. PETER A. DEFAZIO, D-ORE. REP. NITA M. LOWEY, D-N.Y. DEL. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON, D-D.C. REP. ZOE LOFGREN, D-CALIF. REP. SHEILA JACKSON LEE, D-TEXAS DEL. DONNA M.C. CHRISTENSEN, D-VIRGIN IS. REP. BOB ETHERIDGE, D-N.C. REP. JIM LANGEVIN, D-R.I. REP. HENRY CUELLAR, D-TEXAS REP. CHRISTOPHER CARNEY, D-PA. REP. YVETTE D. CLARKE, D-N.Y. REP. AL GREEN, D-TEXAS REP. ED PERLMUTTER, D-COLO. REP. BILL PASCRELL JR., D-N.J.

REP. PETER T. KING, R-N.Y. RANKING MEMBER REP. LAMAR SMITH, R-TEXAS REP. CHRISTOPHER SHAYS, R-CONN. REP. MARK SOUDER, R-IND. REP. THOMAS M. DAVIS III, R-VA REP. DAN LUNGREN, R-CALIF. REP. MIKE D. ROGERS, R-ALA. REP. DAVE REICHERT, R-WASH. REP. MICHAEL MCCAUL, R-TEXAS REP. CHARLIE DENT, R-PA. REP. GINNY BROWN-WAITE, R-FLA. REP. GUS BILIRAKIS, R-FLA. REP. DAVID DAVIS, R-TENN. REP. PAUL BROUN, R-GA. REP. CANDICE S. MILLER, R-MICH.

WITNESSES: ELAINE DUKE, UNDERSECRETARY FOR MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

GEORGE STALCUP, DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC ISSUES, GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE

STACEY STEWART, CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER, FANNIE MAE CORPORATION

[*] THOMPSON: The Committee on Homeland Security will come to order.

The committee is meeting today to receive testimony on Diversity at DHS: Keeping Pace or Missing the Mark.

I'm told that some people might question why this committee is examining the department's workforce diversity. In response to those concerns, I want to read the following quote: "Research shows that organizations employing an effective diversity strategy based on the concept of inclusion and respect for differences enhance their creative problem solving, organizational flexibility and mission effectiveness."

While I agree with those words, they are not my words. The words were contained in a June 2007 report on the department's diversity initiatives that was issued by Marta Brito Perez, former chief human capital officer at the Department of Homeland Security. However, within six months after issuing the report, Ms. Brito Perez left the department.

In March 2008, Majority Committee staff issued a report examining diversity in the senior, executive and leadership ranks at the department. With few exceptions, the report found that the department lagged behind other federal agencies in its representation of women and minorities in the Senior Executive Service.

In April 2008, the acting chief human capital officer testified at a joint hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee and the House Committee on Government Oversight. He stated that while DHS had formed a Diversity Council, it still had not issued a corporate diversity strategy or implemented a diversity action plan for the remainder of F.Y. 2008 through F.Y. 2010.

Since Ms. Barito Perez's report, several disturbing incidents have occurred at the department. Racially offensive e-mai...

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