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Congressman Gerry Connolly is presented with the 2012 Public Service Award by William Bransford, vice chair of the Public Employees Roundtable, at a ceremony in the U.S. Capitol.  Connolly was honored for his support of the federal workforce and his efforts in Congress to improve government.

Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) was honored for his support of the federal workforce and his efforts to promote good government at a ceremony Wednesday evening.  Connolly received the 2012 Public Service Award from the Public Employees Roundtable, a non-partisan coalition of 30 organizations, and the Coalition for Effective Change.

Connolly was the first recipient of this new award to recognize national leaders who support the betterment of the federal workforce and improving government.  The award will be given annually as part of Public Service Recognition Week.

In accepting the award, Connolly praised the federal workforce and criticized the drumbeat of criticism by some in Congress, but quickly turned his attention to the accomplishments of a federal employee from Gainesville in the 11^th Congressional District. 

“The employee, Joyce Connery of the National Security Council, helped organize the nuclear summit of 2010 which has led to large scale reductions in weapons grade uranium by dozens of countries, many of which are one another’s enemy,” Connolly said.  “She continued to follow up for the next two years, ensuring that 90% of the uranium reduction goals have been met.  It isn’t an exaggeration to say that Ms. Connery may have saved hundreds of thousands if not millions of lives by eliminating uranium which otherwise could have been used by terrorists or rogue nations for a dirty bomb.”

Connolly pointed out that Connery was also honored this week as a finalist for the Service to America medal.  “The honor she has received is well deserved,” he said.

“Many of our federal employees are our nation’s unsung heroes, though they are rarely recognized as such,” Connolly said.  “They ensure that the food we eat, the prescription drugs we take, the air we breathe, and the water we drink is safe.  They make sure that Social Security checks arrive on time, protect us from terrorist and foreign adversaries, keep our air travel safe, and conduct thousands of other important functions that directly impact the quality of our lives on a daily basis.”

In choosing Connolly to receive the prestigious award, the PER selection committee cited his vocal and tireless championing of federal employees, legislation he sponsored aimed at bettering the federal workforce, and his willingness to stand up in Congress for federal workers against repeated assaults on their pay, their pensions, and their integrity.

“Public service is no less noble today than when John F. Kennedy called us to serve in his inaugural speech,” Connolly said.  “His legacy has lived on in generations of public servants who have made this the greatest country on Earth.” 

I am proud to stand with our federal and public employees, and advocate for the dignity and nobility of public service,” Connolly said. 

Also scheduled to receive this public service awards this year were Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) and Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI).