SAMMIE Award Finalists Lauded at Public Service Week Breakfast

Together, specialists at the Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency blocked a now-notorious scheme by Volkswagen to evade emission standards, helping secure a record $17.4 billion in legal settlements and advancing efforts to curb air pollution.

They were joined on Capitol Hill on Tuesday morning by other federal employees who exposed tax scams, provided humanitarian aid to war victims in Syria and designed new lightweight Marine Corps body armor. The 26 finalists for the annual Service to America Medals (the “SAMMIES”) were honored over breakfast by three Cabinet members, several lawmakers and the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service.

“Though I haven’t been at Treasury long, I could not be more impressed with the career staff across the department,” said Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin. “Speaking for the entire administration, I am humbled to see the talent in this room and the incredible work all are doing.” (Responding to a reference to his past work creating Hollywood movies, Mnuchin joked that “I’m getting a lot of ideas but I’m subject to the conflict of interest and disclosure rules.”)

Housing and Urban Development Secretary (and 2016 Republican presidential candidate) Ben Carson said his brief experience at HUD has contradicted the common notion that “government employees don’t work hard—they’re extremely dedicated to what they’re doing,” he said, praising his agency’s winners and welcoming the opportunity to concentrate on an agency mission instead of politics. “We have a chance to make the government what it’s supposed to be—a facilitator of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” he said.

Carson also joked that “in Hollywood, actors cross their fingers and hope to get their equivalent of the SAMMIES—I think they call it the Oscars, or something,” he added, noting that federal employees “aren’t going to be followed by paparazzi or jet off to Tokyo.”  But in recognizing their service, Carson said, “we will be their paparazzi.”

Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin said, “Public Service Recognition Week should be Public Service Recognition Year.” Most Americans don’t realize federal employees are “some of the hardest working people, not just 9-5 but evenings and weekends,” he said. “They inspire us to be proud to feel a part of the workforce, and they make others want to join us.”

Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., called federal workers “the infrastructure” of government who sacrifice dollars and time. She recalled inspiration from a tax attorney she worked with in North Dakota who retired after decades and was offered positions on the letterhead of every major state law firm. But he didn’t take them up on it because he “might have to take a case against the people of North Dakota,” she said.

Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., said it was “nice to be able to thank” the workforce after three years of a pay freeze and more recently, a hiring freeze. “As Democrats, we’ll keep fighting for you,” added Beyer, who said his family’s past three generations together can boast 126 years of public service.

Also attending were Internal Revenue Commissioner John Koskinen, Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Elaine Duke, District of Columbia Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, numerous acting agency deputies and union officials.

Attendees received copies of President Trump’s May 5 proclamation marking Public Service Recognition Week, as well as a letter of encouragement signed by 19 Cabinet members (the signature for Dan Coats, director of the Office of National Intelligence, was still “pending.”)

The event’s purpose “is to spread stories of people who excel, because it’s important that we celebrate success if we want to get the best from government,” said Max Stier, president and CEO of the Partnership. “Some of these behind-the-scenes players aren’t even known in their own agencies.”

The Partnership for the past 15 years has administered the award.

Stier said his judges received 441 nominations following a call for submissions in January.  The final seven medal recipients will be announced on Sept. 27 at a banquet at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington.