releases: https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=3e608db9-25ea-41de-aad1-d79caa89d418
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=3e608db9-25ea-41de-aad1-d79caa89d418 | Heitkamp Leads Senate Hearing to Develop Solutions for Recruiting & Retaining Federal Workers in Bakken, at Northern Border | 2015-10-22 | 2015 | 2015-10 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today led a U.S. Senate hearing to develop solutions on how best to recruit and retain quality federal workers, particularly in regions such as the Bakken and the Northern Border where high cost of living and remote locations pose unique challenges. Heitkamp is the top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management, which held the hearing. Heitkamp pressed witnesses on how to improve the federal governments flexibility regarding hiring, recruitment, and retention to respond to unique challenges, such as the dramatic cost of living increase in the Bakken or the need to attract people to the remote areas of the Northern Border. The Senate hearing specifically follows up on feedback Heitkamp has heard in North Dakota about challenges with recruiting and retaining federal workers to do critical energy, agriculture, and civilian military jobs, as salaries dont keep pace with the high cost of living in the state because of the energy and population booms. Heitkamp has also heard from border security officers about problems hiring workers in remote areas of the state, and is continuing her work to address these issues in the Senate. Anyone whos been to the Bakken or to the Northern Border can tell you that we have real roadblocks in recruiting and retaining federal workers there, said Heitkamp. That results in a less efficient and effective federal government and hurts our families, business, and communities. To change that, Ive fought to make federal wages competitive at Minot Air Force Base and throughout western North Dakota so we can keep workers in these needed jobs, support other workers and industries, and help keep our communities safe. But we have more work to do and my subcommittee will continue to look at how to enable federal employees to get the help they have earned more quickly in the future. Heitkamps hearing investigated ways to make the federal employee pay system more flexible to meet future workforce challenges. Energy development in the Bakken has resulted in tremendous job creation and economic growth in the last several years, but it has also led to dramatic increases in private sector wages and the cost of living in North Dakota. Many federal agencies have struggled to retain employees amid the economic boom, including civilian employees at Minot Air Force Base, scientists, engineers and park rangers. While Heitkamp has successfully pushed for pay raises for over 480 federal employees in recent years to help them afford to stay in their jobs, todays hearing also looked at what policy changes are needed to make pay adjustments faster, fairer, and more flexible. The hearing also examined issues with recruiting and retaining border security officers along the Northern Border, many of which must serve in remote locations. North Dakota has 17 border crossings, many of which are small and in rural areas. Witnesses who testified at the hearing included key officials and federal employee union leadership capable of speaking to North Dakotas unique federal workforce challenges in the Bakken and at the border, such as: Brenda Roberts, Deputy Associate Director for Pay and Leave, U.S. Office of Personnel Management Debra Warner, Director of Civilian Force Management, U.S. Air Force Linda Jacksta, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Human Resources Management, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Anthony M. Reardon, National President, National Treasury Employees Union William R. Dougan, National President, National Federation of Federal Employees Heitkamp has long fought to recruit and retain an effective and efficient federal workforce throughout North Dakota, including at Minot and Grand Forks Air Force Base, and DHS facilities along the Northern Border. In September 2014, Heitkamp brought U.S. Office of Personal Management Director Katherine Archuleta to North Dakota to hear firsthand about the challenges federal agencies face in maintaining an efficient and effective federal workforce in the face of North Dakotas economic growth and increased cost of living. Since Director Archuletas visit, three pay rate increases have been approved, improving pay for about 480 federal employees working across western North Dakota, including civilian workers at Minot Air Force Base. Heitkamp also brought the number two official at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to North Dakotas Northern Border in April to meet with local officials and hear firsthand about the challenges faced with recruiting and retaining federal employees in remote communities. Nationwide, the Northern Border is more than twice as long as our southern land border with Mexico. Approximately 300,000 people and $910 million in trade cross the Northern Border every day, representing the largest bilateral flows of goods and people in the world. In July, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs unanimously passed her bipartisan bill to require a comprehensive examination of how to strengthen American security at the Northern Border. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |