III

103D CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. RES. 271

To express the sense of the Senate that the proposed Oregon Option project

has the potential to improve intergovernmental service delivery and that

the Federal Government should work cooperatively with the State and

local governments of Oregon to fully implement the Oregon Option proposal.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

SEPTEMBER 28 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 12), 1994

Mr. HATFIELD submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the

Committee on Governmental Affairs

RESOLUTION

To express the sense of the Senate that the proposed Oregon

Option project has the potential to improve intergovernmental service delivery and that the Federal Government

should work cooperatively with the State and local governments of Oregon to fully implement the Oregon Option proposal.

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
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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 government’s 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 intergovernmental relations, and it has the potential to completely

transform the relationships among Federal, State and

local governments by creating a system of intergovernmental service delivery and funding that is based on

measurable performance, customer satisfaction, prevention, flexibility, and service integration; and

Whereas Oregon is well prepared to begin work on the Oregon Option, and the project has the potential to dra-
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matically improve the quality of Federal, State and local

services to Oregonians: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the

2 proposed Oregon Option project has the potential to im3 prove intergovernmental service delivery and that the Fed4 eral Government should work cooperatively with the State

5 and local governments of Oregon to fully implement the

6 Oregon Option proposal.

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