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Y 4. G74/9:S. HRG. 102-1024

S. Hrg. 102-1029

PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT:
TOWARD MORE EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT

HEARING

BEFORE THE

COMMITTEE ON
GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
UNITED STATES SENATE

ONE HUNDRED SECOND CONGRESS

SECOND SESSION

ON

S. 20

TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT, TESTING, AND EVALUATION
OF STRATEGIC PLANNING AND PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT IN
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

57-528

MAY 5, 1992

Printed for the use of the Committee on Governmental Affairs

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BRARY OF GOVT DOCUME

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Franklin G. Polk, Minority Staff Director and Chief Counsel
Michal Sue Prosser, Chief Clerk

(II)

PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT: TOWARD MORE

EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 1992

U.S. SENATE,

COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS,

Washington, DC.

The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 9:35 a.m., in room SD-342, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. John Glenn, Chairman of the Committee, presiding.

Present: Senators Glenn and Roth.

OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR GLENN

Chairman GLENN. The Committee will come to order.

Good morning. Today, the Committee on Governmental Affairs convenes for a second time in a year to examine performance measurement. Last May, the Committee heard testimony on the use of performance measures by State and local governments. Our witness this morning will discuss opportunities for their use in Federal agencies.

Performance measurement holds a simple but very compelling promise that the public, through its elected officials, can improve Government effectiveness and efficiency, and that Federal managers can be held accountable for the performance of their programs. I know that statement sounds so elementary that it hardly need be said, but too often the performance is not measured properly, and that what this is all about.

We all know that this is not the way many Government agencies work. Too often, we neglect to ensure that program objectives are met-when they exist at all. Federal workers might spend their time pushing loans on farmers, or medical care onto veterans, without ever asking whether or not the loans or the treatment went to the right person, or whether or not someone actually benefitted.

Increasingly, Federal agencies are being asked to do more with less. Budgets are tight and getting tighter. This makes it imperative that every dollar be spent wisely. As a result, Government agencies, and we in the Congress as well, must learn to judge performance appropriately. We need to get beyond asking agencies easy questions like, did all the checks go out, or did you fully spend your budget.

Instead we must focus more concretely on the outcomes of Federal spending and public services. We must be assured that Federal funds are being spent on the right things and for the right reasons.

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