 |
Food Safety and Inspection
Service United States Department of Agriculture Washington, D.C. 20250-3700 |
|
Food Safety and Inspection
Service United States Department of Agriculture Washington, D.C. 20250-3700 |
Communications to Congress
July 31, 2001
The Honorable Herbert Kohl
Chairman, Committee on Appropriations,
Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural
Development, Food and Drug Administration
and Related Agencies
United States Senate
123 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Mr. Chairman:
Enclosed is the quarterly report of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), which provides an update on budget execution, staffing levels and staffing needs, for the third quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2001. This report was requested by the conferees in the Conference Report accompanying the FY 2001 Agriculture Appropriations Act, P.L. 106-387.
As mentioned in our letter transmitting the first quarter report, FSIS has established 7,610 as a sustainable base or “floor” level for in-plant permanent full-time employment. At present, temporary authority has been granted to allow in-plant employment to rise to 7,660 knowing that employment fluctuates each month based on the Agency’s normal attrition and ability to hire. Having a targeted range for in-plant employment will ensure that FSIS has adequate resources to meet industry demand for inspection services. With 18 employees reporting on July 1, the Agency employment as of that date was 7,614. As of July 15, the Agency employment was 7,647. That includes 47 new employees hired July 15 and attrition of 12 employees through that date. This number is essentially the same level of 7,650 included in our third quarter plan for the year. Based on recruitment efforts, the Agency expects to meet its end of year staffing goal. The employment level for the last two months of the year is expected to be in the range of 7,640 to 7,660.
As reported previously, FSIS will not utilize the same level of other-than-permanent employees in FY 2001 as were used in FY 2000. Since the Agency continues to find it difficult to hire other-than-permanent employees, the focus of recruitment activities is on hiring permanent full-time employees -- where we have had the most success.
FSIS remains conscious of the Congressional mandate included in the FY 2001 appropriation, as well as the previous FY 2000 appropriation, that specifies a minimum dollar limit that must be used for Federal Food Inspection. For FY 2001, this amount is $591,258,000. Based upon the cumulative data through the third quarter, FSIS expects to meet this funding level.
The in-plant slaughter staffing profile report reflects the change in demand for slaughter line positions and coverage of those positions at slaughter and combination slaughter and processing establishments. The difference between the number of positions and permanent full-time employment is the number of other types of staffing used to provide full coverage of all slaughter positions. Other types of staffing are defined in the report, and their distribution represents the predominant pattern of slaughter inspection coverage. The third quarter report reflects a slight increase in additional positions, but cumulatively for the year, the number of line positions has only increased by four. The increase in employment, along with the fact that there has been essentially no change in the number of slaughter line positions in the first nine months, continues to assure existing positions are staffed properly.
We have provided copies of the report to Senator Cochran and all Members of the Subcommittee, in addition to your counterparts in the House. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to call the FSIS Office of Management at 202-720-4744.
Sincerely,
/s/THOMAS J. BILLY
Administrator
Enclosures
For Further Information Contact:
FSIS Congressional and Public Affairs Staff
Phone: (202) 720-3897
Fax: (202) 720-5704
Communications to Congress Page | FSIS Home Page | USDA Home Page