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REMARKS BY: DONNA E. SHALALA, SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
PLACE: FEDERALLY EMPLOYED WOMEN AWARDS BANQUET, OMNI SHOREHAM HOTEL, WASHINGTON, D.C.
DATE: APRIL 30, 1998

"The Tools for Success"

I’m honored to receive your very first "President’s Award," and I want to accept it on behalf of all federal women and their commitment, concern and creativity. These are women who exemplify what one observer noted: That whatever women do they must do twice as well as men…to be thought half as good.

Women in federal service will always be symbolized for me by a pioneer named Mary Switzer. Across the street from my office, the Mary Switzer Building stands as a stately monument to one of our nation’s legendary figures—a true star—in social work and social welfare. But she really doesn’t need a monument of brick and stone—her legacy lives on through the public she served, the people she helped—and maybe through me as well.

Mary Switzer was the first administrator of "Social and Rehabilitative Services" in the Department of Health, Education and Welfare—and a trailblazer in improving the lives of millions with disabilities. When I was just a college student, Mary—then at the zenith of her career— came to give a lecture at my school. I’ll never forget what she said.
Her message that day was simple: Public life, especially working for the federal government, is tremendously exciting and rewarding. At the time, I thought her message was inspirational—and now I know that it’s true.

Mary Switzer not only made a positive difference in my life, she’s the very personification of the positive difference that women have made in our country and in our government. It’s a difference that President Clinton has always appreciated. He’s named women for 41 percent of Administration appointees—by far the highest percentage ever.

In fact, he’s brought so many women into federal service I told him that for the first time, we could move a major policy issue through the government without it ever touching a man’s hands—until it got to him of course. That’s just fine with me, because I’ve always thought that the federal government got better and better as more and more women joined its ranks.

And to help every one of those women achieve equity and equality, we’ve recently directed managers to work to close the 20 percent pay gap between the average woman and the average man in federal service. Talents—not gender—must decide the size of the paycheck.

Of course, the best way to help federal women is to help every woman, every day, everywhere. We must raise all of our boats at the same time. And this President is certainly committed to that. We have invested in women’s education and training by providing Hope Scholarships, Lifetime Learning Tax Credits, and an increase in Pell Grants. We are helping working women care for their kids by proposing the largest investment in Child Care in our history, and by extending health insurance to millions of children. And we’ve expanded women’s economic opportunities by passing the Family & Medical Leave Act, extending the Earned Income Tax Credit, and raising the minimum wage.

Of course, as the opportunities for women have grown, so have our responsibilities. Each of us in this room has a responsibility to the public we serve.

Each of us also has a responsibility to help women achieve their full potential within the federal government—to help them keep their sights on the stars. I’m reminded of the immortal words of the great Casey Stengal. When asked about winning the 1958 World Series, Stengal simply replied, "I couldn’t have done it without my players." When it comes to advancing women in the federal service—the very reason your organization was founded—each and every one of us must step up to the plate. It’s now up to all of us to make a positive difference. But how do we make that difference? I believe that Mary Switzer’s life provides the answers. It gives us three lessons—three challenges—that we all must meet.

The first lesson of Mary’s life was summed up by one of my predecessors, Eliot Richardson. He noted that Mary was "always a tenacious and resourceful champion of her programs." In much the same way, we must all be tenacious and resourceful champions not only of our own careers paths—but for the advancement of all women in federal service. We will only reach our ultimate destination if we all arrive together. I applaud your activities to increase job opportunities for women; to promote the concerns of women through your legislative program; and to eliminate barriers to diversity within the federal government. All of these efforts will help ensure that no woman is left behind, left out, or left on the sidelines.

But of course we can’t simply help women achieve—we must give them the tools to help themselves. That’s the second lesson of Mary Switzer’s life. She made sure she had the right skills not only to survive but to thrive. She took to heart the advice of a beloved uncle that a good set of skills "and a good set of files, will serve you well." We have to ensure that every woman also has the opportunity—at work and outside of it—to get the skills and training she needs to not only survive, but thrive. I think your own National Training Program is a model in this area. By offering training in management, communications, technology and career enhancements, you’re helping to bridge the gap between the desire for success and the ability to succeed that exists for too many women.

My Department also offers extensive career training. And earlier this year, I cut the ribbon on our new Work-Life Center. The Center provides numerous opportunities for workplace learning—while also helping our employees keep a healthy balance between work and family. We hope the Center will become a model throughout government.

Which brings me to the third lesson of Mary’s life. She understood the importance of a supportive group of fellow travelers on the journey of her career. She always recognized that when she first came to Washington during the Depression, she was mentored by a group of more experienced women—her own models for success.

They not only counseled her in the ways of our nation’s capital, but they served as a community to which she returned time and time again for encouragement and advice.
All of us—women and men—must also strive to provide that encouragement and advice for each other. And we should be willing to be mentors for women who are new to the workforce, or who are just trading in their welfare check for a paycheck. Because of all the resources that contribute to a woman’s success, none is more important—or more powerful—than a mentor. Every man and woman in this room is a prime source of advice, observation and insight for your female co-workers: Never forget the positive difference you all can make.

I’ve no doubt that if we apply the three lessons of Mary Switzer’s life, we will make a difference in the lives of millions of women in federal service. Of course, I applaud the difference that your organization has already been making in their lives for the past 30 years. It’s really just a coincidence that Mary Switzer passed away at about the same time that Federally Employed Women was being founded. Still, it’s as though her sense of service and her soaring spirit has been passed to all of you. And it’s thanks to organizations like yours that not only federal women, but all women—as well as women’s rights, women’s issues and women’s interests—have come so far.

Today, a woman Cabinet Secretary is no more unusual than a woman clerk. And while it’s good for us to occasionally glance back and see how far we’ve actually come—It’s much more important for us to look to the road ahead—to see where we’re going; how far is the journey; and how we’ll get there. It’s also important for us to occasionally look up. Driving through Maryland earlier this week, I noticed the particular brilliance of the stars on that spring evening. And I was reminded that Schiller wrote that the stars of our own fates are actually found within us. Helping all federal women reach their own stars is also very much in our hands—and in the hands of organizations like this. That’s why we must always work to ensure that women have a place and a voice at every table…To ensure that women’s issues are always thought of as workplace issues…And to ensure that we continue to make a positive difference in the lives of our fellow women…our fellow employees…our fellow travelers.

Again, thank you for this award—congratulations on your 30th anniversary, and good night.