FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS OF THE SPANISH SPEAKING HEARINGS BEFORE THE CIVIL RIGHTS OVERSIGHT SUBCOMMITTEE (SUBCOMMITTEE NO. 4). \ Limited States. Courgess, OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY NINETY-SECOND CONGRESS COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY EMANUEL CELLER, New York, Chairman PETER W. RODINO, JR., New Jersey HAROLD D. DONOHUE, Massachusetts JACK BROOKS, Texas JOHN DOWDY, Texas ROBERT W. KASTENMEIER, Wisconsin WILLIAM L. HUNGATE, Missouri WILLIAM M. McCULLOCH, Ohio EDWARD G. BIESTER, JR., Pennsylvania DAVID W. DENNIS, Indiana R. LAWRENCE COUGHLIN, Pennsylvania LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, Maryland JAMES D. McKEVITT, Colorado CONTENTS Kator, Irving, Assistant Executive Director, U.S. Civil Service Com- mission; accompanied by Higinio Costales, Director, Spanish speak- Olivas, Roberto, national services officer, Southwest Council of La Ramirez, Hon. Henry M., chairman, Cabinet Committee on Opportuni- ties for Spanish Speaking People; accompanied by Manuel Oliverez, Deputy Director for Programs and Robert Brochtrup, congressional Roybal, Hon. Edward R., a Representative in Congress from the Badillo, Hon. Herman, a Representative in Congress from the State of Diaz, Manuel, Jr., senior vice president. New York Urban Coalition__ Railsback, Hon. Thomas F., a Representative in Congress from the Brady, Rodney H., Assistant Secretary for Administration and Man- agement, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, to Hon. Carlucci, Frank. Associate Director. Office of Management and Budget, Edwards, Hon. Don, a Representative in Congress from the State of California, and chairman, Civil Rights Oversight Subcommittee, to— Vernon E. Wilson, M.D., Administrator, Health Services and Men- Leonard, Jerris, Administrator, Law Enforcement Assistance Adminis- McClory, Hon. Robert, a Representative in Congress from the State of Tunney, Hon. John V., a Senator in Congress from the State of Cali- 59 Wilson, Vernon E., M.D., Administrator, Health Services and Mental Health Administration, Department of Health, Education, and Wel- fare, to Hon. Don Edwards, April 12, 1972--- Additional Materials- Edwards, Hon. Don, a Representative in Congress from the State of 347 ing. Bureau of Recruiting and Examining, January 5, 1972. 498 337 Federal Civil Rights Enforcement Effort, pp. 19-42_. 463 The Federal Civil Rights Enforcement Effort: 1 Year Later, 486 Progress Report on the 16-Point Program for the Spanish Speak- U.S. Commission on Civil Rights— THE FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS OF THE SPANISH SPEAKING WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 1972 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, The subcommittee met at 10 a.m., pursuant to notice, in room 2237, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Don Edwards (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Present: Representatives Edwards of California, Waldie, Wiggins, Sandman, Keating, and McClory. Staff members present: Jerome M. Zeifman, counsel, Alfred S. Joseph III, assistant counsel, and George A. Dalley, assistant counsel. Mr. EDWARDS. The subcommittee will come to order. Today the Civil Rights Oversight Subcommittee convenes hearings on the Federal Employment of Spanish Speaking People. The Federal Government is the Nation's largest employer. It pays salaries for almost every conceivable skill, stations people in almost every city and town, and deals with problems of vital interest to every citizen. Yet, in spite of a clear constitutional mandate, congressional legislation, and policy statements issued by both Democratic and Republican administration, only minimal progress appears to have been made in establishing true equal opportunity for minority group members in the Federal civil service. In an August 8, 1969, memorandum for the heads of all executive departments and agencies, President Nixon eloquently described the importance and the subject of today's hearing. The President said this: No more serious task challenges our Nation domestically than the achievement of equality of opportunity for all our citizens in every aspect of their lives regardless of their race, color, religion, national origin, or sex. This includes the opportunity for all persons, with full recognition of their dignity as individuals, to seek and to achieve their highest potential and productivity in employment situations. Discrimination of any kind based on factors not relevant to job performance must be eradicated completely from Federal employment. In addition, we must, through positive action, make it possible for our citizens to compete on a truly equal and fair basis for employment and to qualify for advancement within the Federal service. We must search for new ways to provide the necessary encouragement, assistance, and training opportunities, where appropriate, so that all employees may utilize their capabilities to the fullest extent in meeting the manpower needs of Federal agencies. Until very recently discrimination against nonwhite employees was the accepted practice among Federal agencies. During the First World War black clerks employed by the Navy were required to work behind (1) |