House Oversight Committee Passes Hice’s “Chance to Compete Act”

Bipartisan bill improves and updates the hiring process for federal employees

The House Committee on Oversight and Reform today passed by voice vote legislation authored by Government Operations Subcommittee Ranking Member Jody Hice (R-Ga.) and Representative Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) to improve the federal hiring process. The Chance to Compete Act (H.R. 6967) is a bipartisan, bicameral bill that gives agencies the ability to share applicant assessments, allows subject matter experts to serve as interviewers, and moves assessments toward focusing on the candidate’s ability to perform the actual job rather than where or if they received their college degree.

“In order for the government to function at its highest level and to best serve taxpayers, we need to attract top-level talent who has sought opportunities elsewhere due to an outdated federal hiring process. Any applicant who seeks a career in the federal workforce should have their skillset prioritized, not their college degree,” said Subcommittee Ranking Member Jody Hice. “The Chance to Compete Act modernizes the federal workforce’s hiring process to help agencies hire a better and more effective workforce to guarantee the government better serves the American people. Today, the House Oversight Committee has taken an important step in making federal hiring more effective by passing this bill. I look forward to this bipartisan, bicameral bill being taken up by the House of Representatives.”

The “Chance to Compete Act” outlines acceptable job assessments to include skills-based assessments. This allows agencies to focus on candidates who can perform the duties of the role and the sharing of applicant assessments between agencies to increase hiring efficiency. It also institutes “talent teams” in agency human resources offices—ensuring each agency has key staff who specialize in supporting the development of skills-based assessments and improving examinations.

Click HERE for bill text.