[Pages S421-S422]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

SENATE RESOLUTION 23--REL- ATIVE TO THE OREGON OPTION

Mr. HATFIELD submitted the following resolution; which was referred
to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.

S. Res. 23

Whereas Federal, State and local governments are dealing
with increasingly complex problems which require the delivery
of many kinds of social services at all levels of government;
Whereas historically, Federal programs have addressed the
Nation's problems by providing categorical assistance with
detailed requirements relating to the use of funds which are
often delivered by State and local governments;
Whereas although the current approach is one method of
service delivery, a number of problems exist in the current
intergovernmental structure that impede effective delivery of
vital services by State and local governments;
Whereas it is more important than ever to provide programs
that respond flexibly to the needs of the Nation's States and
communities, reduce the barriers between programs that impede
Federal, State and local governments' ability to effectively
deliver services, encourage the Nation's Federal, State and
local governments to be innovative in creating programs that
meet the unique needs of the people in their communities
while continuing to address national goals, and improve the
accountability of all levels of government by better
measuring government performance and better meeting the needs
of service recipients;
Whereas the State and local governments of Oregon have
proposed a pilot project, called the Oregon Option, that
would utilize strategic planning and performance-based
management that may provide the new models for
intergovernmental social service delivery;
Whereas the Oregon Option is a prototype of a new
intergovernmental relations system, and it has the potential
to completely transform the relationships among Federal,
State and local governments by creating a
[[Page S422]] system of intergovernmental service delivery
and funding that is based on measurable performance, customer
satisfaction, prevention, flexibility, and service
integration; and
Whereas the Oregon Option has the potential to dramatically
improve the quality of Federal, State and local services to
Oregonians: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the
Oregon Option project has the potential to improve
intergovernmental service delivery by shifting accountability
from compliance to performance results and the Federal
Government should continue in its partnership with the State
and local governments of Oregon to fully implement the Oregon
Option.

Mr. HATFIELD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a
memorandum of understanding and a letter regarding the Oregon Option be
printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:

Memorandum of Understanding Regarding ``The Oregon Option''

I. Purpose

The purpose of this Memorandum Of Understanding is to
encourage and facilitate cooperation among Federal, State and
local entities to redesign and test an outcomes oriented
approach to intergovernmental service delivery. This special
partnership and long-range commitment will serve as
demonstration of principles and practices which may serve as
a model for improvements nationwide.

ii. background

In July 1994, Oregon proposed a multi-year demonstration
with the Federal Government to redesign intergovernmental
service delivery, structured and operated to achieve
measurable results that will improve the lives of Oregonians.
Oregon is uniquely suited for an experimental demonstration
to develop an outcomes oriented approach to intergovernmental
services. The State and many local governments have begun
using an outcomes model for establishing longrange vision,
setting public priorities, allocating resources, designing
services, and measuring results. The Oregon Legislature has
endorsed the Oregon ``Benchmarks.'' Further, many nonprofit
organizations, businesses, and civic groups in Oregon are
aligned to a benchmark process with State, county and local
jurisdictions.

iii. Principles to guide cooperation

The following principles should guide the parties
cooperation in this undertaking:
A re-designed system would be:
Structured, managed, and evaluated on the basis of results
(i.e., progress in achieving benchmarks).
Oriented to customer needs and satisfaction, especially
through integration of services.
Biased toward prevention rather than remediation of
problems.
Simplified and integrated as much as possible, delegating
responsibilities for service, design, delivery, and results
to front-line, local-level providers, whether they are local
agencies or local officies of state agencies.

iv. responsibilities of the parties

The parties to this memorandum will work together as
partners to (1) identify benchmarks, strategies, and measures
that provide a framework for improved intergovernmental
service delivery and (2) undertake efforts to identify and
eliminate barriers to achieving program results.

v. authorities

The principles and responsibilities covered in this
memorandum are intended to improve the coordinated delivery
of intergovernmental programs. This memorandum does not
commit any of the parties to a particular level of resources;
nor is it intended to create any right or benefit or diminish
any existing right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law by a party against the United States,
State of Oregon, any state or federal agency, any state or
federal official, any party of this agreement, or any person.
While significant changes to the intergovernmental service
delivery system are anticipated as result of this effort,
this is not a legally binding or enforceable agreement.
Nothing in this memorandum alters the responsibilities or
statutory authorities of the Federal agencies, or State or
local governments.
____

Oregon Progress Board,

Salem, OR, January 3, 1993.
Hon. Mark O. Hatfield,
U.S. Senator,
Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Hatfield: Thank you for introducing a Senate
Resolution in support of the Oregon Option.
For the past six years, the Oregon Progress Board has been
developing and championing Oregon Benchmarks, measurable
indicators of how our state is performing in education,
health, environmental quality and economic development. The
Benchmarks have been extensively reviewed through public
meetings, and the measures are used widely to guide public,
non-profit and private sectors activities.
Through the Oregon Option, we hope to apply the Oregon
Benchmarks to federal programs. The typical federal approach
to domestic programs carried out by state and local
governments is to structure and manage service delivery from
the top down. Officials in Washington define problems and
solutions, prescribe service activities, impose complex but
often conflicting and wasteful regulations and measure
program success based on compliance rather than on true
results.
Under the Oregon Option, federal, state and local partners
work together to define results--in the form of benchmarks--
that they want to achieve with federal dollars. State and
local service providers then have the latitude to determine
how best to achieve those results. The approach unburdens
Oregon's state and local service providers from paperwork and
frees their time and energy to deliver results.
We hope that the Oregon Option can become a model for a
different way to deliver intergovernmental services, a model
that empowers communities and front line workers to achieve
the results citizens demand.
Endorsement by the Senate would give the Oregon Option an
enormous boost. We greatly appreciate your support for this
effort.
Sincerely,
Duncan Wyse,
Executive Director.
____

Marion County, Oregon,

Board of Commissioners,

December 30, 1994.
Hon. Mark O. Hatfield,
U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Hatfield: I am writing to offer my sincere
thanks to you for introducing your Senate Resolution
recognizing the importance of The Oregon Option and calling
for its full implementation.
The Oregon Option offers us an historic opportunity to
create a more responsive, efficient government which gives
local communities greater responsibility for their own
success. Ultimately, through this collaborative effort, I
believe that we can restore credibility for our institutions
and redefine governance for our citizens.
Much of the current debate over intergovernmental relations
revolves around the level of government at which we place
authority and responsibility for delivering services. Such a
debate is empty if it does not take the time to ensure
accountability for results, which The Oregon Option has as
its central focus.
I hope that the Senate will enthusiastically adopt your
resolution, and that the Federal Administration will work
quickly to fully implement this important proposal which is
already showing signs of success in Oregon.
Sincerely,

Randall Franke,

Marion County Commissioner; President,
National Association of Counties.

____________________