HHSinnovates Round 3 Awards Ceremony (09/26/11)

GOOD MORNING. I'M NED HOLLAND, THE
ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AND ALONG
WITH MY COLLEAGUE THE CHAIR OF THE INNOVATION COUNCIL,
WHICH IS THE SPONSOR OF WHAT WE'RE DOING THIS MORNING.
IN ADDITION TO TODD, I'M REALLY PLEASED TO HAVE WITH
US HERE THIS MORNING, FIRST OF ALL, MY BOSS, THE
SECRETARY KATHLEEN SEBELIUS, BILL, THE DEPUTY SECRETARY,
AND PARTICULARLY PLEASED THAT WE HAVE WITH US JOHN
BERRY, WITH THE OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, WHOSE
INTRODUCTION I WILL LEAVE TO THE SECRETARY.
IN ADDITION JEFF WITH US THE PRINCIPAL DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF
THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION LARRY
TABACK, THE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF
HEALTH. AND BRIAN SAMUELS,
THE COMMISSIONER ON U.S.C.F. I WANT TO OFFER A WELCOME TO
ALL OF YOU TO THE MEMBERS OF THE INNOVATION COUNCIL, AND
MOST IMPORTANTLY I WANT TO WELCOME ALL OF YOU WHO ARE
WINNERS OF THE HHS RINE VASION AWARDS.
MEMBERS OF THE TEAM FROM SEVERAL HHS AGENCY, AS WELL
AS THE GSA, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
AND THEIR COLLABORATORS, WHO ARE HERE.
I ALSO WANT TO WELCOME ALL YOUR FAMILIES WHO GIVE UP
YOUR TIME AND PRESENCE TO LET YOU DO THE JOBS YOU DO
AND ALLOW YOU TO ENGAGE IN THE WORK THAT YOU ENGAGE IN,
PARTICULARLY THE WORK THAT WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE
HERE TODAY. LASTLY, I WANT TO WELCOME
ALL THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE JOINING US TODAY ONLINE.
THIS IS BEING SUM YOU WILL CAST AROUND THE DEPARTMENT
SO YOU ARE GOING TO BE ON THE AIR, IF YOU WILL.
THIS IS OUR THIRD ROUND OF COMPETITIONS TO CELEBRATE
THE BEST OF INNOVATIONS ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. TWICE A YEAR SECRETARY SEBILIOUS
HOSTS AN EVENT, AND THE COMPETITION TO BRING IDEAS
FORWARD FOR POTENTIAL RECOGNITION.
THIS YEAR WE -- THIS ROUND WE RECEIVED MORE THAN 80
APPLICATIONS AND FROM THOSE WE'VE SELECTED THE SIX FINALISTS.
IMPORTANTLY THOSE FINALISTS WERE SELECTED BY EMPLOYEE
VOTING. WE HAD SOME 7500 PEOPLE VOTE,
AND I WANT TO CALL SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO THOSE
DIVISIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT THAT WERE PARTICULARLY HIGH
IN VOTER TURNOUT. VOTER TURNOUT'S IMPORTANT,
RIGHT? WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE
ADMINISTRATION ON AGING, THE AGENCY FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE
AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE
CONTROL AND PREVENTION AND CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND
THE AGENCY FOR HEALTH, RESEARCH AND QUALITY.
THANK YOU, THE LEADERS OF THOSE GROUPS FOR HAVING
THEIR EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATE IN THIS DEMOCRATIC EFFORT.
I WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT TO EXPECT HERE BRIEFLY AND THEN
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO NEXT OUR SECRETARY, WHO WILL
LEAD US OFF WITH REMARKS AND WHO WILL INTRODUCE OUR
GUESTS. SHE'LL THEN PROCEED WITH
DEPUTY SECRETARY CORPS WHO IS GOING TO HANDLE THE
PRESENTATION OF THE AWARDS. AS YOU KNOW, THE SECRETARY
HAS IDENTIFIED THREE OF THE SIX FINALISTS.
WE WILL ACKNOWLEDGE ALL SIX OF THE FINALISTS AND THEIR
TEAMS AND AFTER THE CEREMONYER THAT GOING TO
JOIN TODD AND ME AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE INNOVATION
COUNCIL FOR LUNCH IN THE SECRETARY'S DINING ROOM FOR
FURTHER DISCUSSION, RECOGNITION, AND INDEED
LUNCH. THERE IS SUCH A THING AS A
FREE LUNCH. [LAUGHTER]
AT THE COMPLETION OF THIS, MY FRIEND TODD PARK WILL
GIVE YOU SOME CLOSING REMARKS.
WE HAVE BUSY LIVES. BUT WE DO BELIEVE IT'S
IMPORTANT TO TAKE TIME TO STOP AND RECOGNIZE PEOPLE,
PARTICULARLY PEOPLE WHO ENGAGE IN INNOVATIVE WORK.
THIS DEPARTMENT FUNCTIONS TO PURSUE THE HEALTH AND THE
HUMAN SERVICES OF THIS ENTIRE NATION AND IN FACT IN
MANY WAYS OF THE ENTIRE WORLD AND THOSE THINGS THAT
YOU DO TO INNOVATE AND MAKE THOSE SERVICES BETTER,
FASTER, QUICKER, MORE THOROUGH, AND MORE SERVICE
TO MANKIND ARE IMPORTANT AND IT IS TERRIFICALLY
IMPORTANT THAT WE SPEND TIME TO RECOGNIZE THAT WORK THAT
YOU DO AND YOU DO IT. THOSE OF YOU STANDING UP
HERE DON'T AND WE KNOW THAT. SO LET ME NOW INTRODUCE OUR
LEADER WHO INSISTS THAT I NEVER GIVE HER LONG
INTRODUCTIONS BUT GUESS WHAT. I DO WHAT SHE TELLS ME SO I
SIMPLY INTRODUCE SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T NEED SOME OF
INTRODUCTION, THE SECRETARY OF HUMAN SERVICES KATHLEEN
SEBILIOUS. [APPLAUSE]
>> WELL, GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY, AND I'M DELIGHTED
TO HAVE A CHANCE TO WELCOME YOU TO THE THIRD ROUND OF HHS
INNOVATION. IT'S ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS,
I THINK OF OUR OPERATIONS HERE, TO REALLY FOCUS ON
THOSE INCREDIBLY CREATIVE AND TALENTED INDIVIDUALS WHO
WORK IN OUR MIDST AND I WANT TO THANK ALL THE MEMBERS OF
THE AD PROJECTS WHO SUBMITTED THEIR IDEAS TO
THIS ROUND. WE HONED IT DOWN TO SIX AND
THREE WILL BE SPECIAL SECRETARIES' PICKS.
BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU. ALL THE GROUPS IN THE AD ARE
REAL WINNERS BECAUSE THEY ARE CONSTANTLY THINKING OF
WAYS THAT WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB WITH THE RESOURCES WE
HAVE. AND I WANT TO ALSO RECOGNIZE
THAT WE'VE GOT LOTS OF EMPLOYEES JOINING US VIA
WEBCAST, AND WE WELCOME YOU ALSO.
THE FACT THAT NED AND TODD CO-CHAIR THIS COUNCIL I
THINK IS INDICATIVE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE INNOVATION
EFFORT. THEY ARE TWO OF OUR MOST
STRATEGIC LEADERS AND THEIR TIME AND ATTENTION TO
FIGURING OUT WAYS WE CAN BE MORE INNOVATIVE AS WE MOVE
FORWARD IS SOMETHING THAT THEY DO ON A REGULAR BASIS.
CERTAINLY BEING JOINED BY MY GREAT PARTNER BILL KOR, THE
DEPUTY SECRETARY IN THIS EFFORT, GIVES YOU SOME IDEA
OF THE FACT THAT WE BOTH THINK THIS IS A CRITICAL
LEADERSHIP. AND I WELCOME THE AGENCY
LEADERS WHO ARE HERE. AND WE'RE THRILLED TO HAVE
JOHN BERRY WITH US TODAY. HE AGREED TO COME AND BE OUR
HIGHLIGHTED SPEAKER, AND WE'LL GET TO HEAR FROM HIM
IN A MINUTE. NED HAS ALREADY SAID THE
WORK WE DO IS INCREDIBLY VITAL.
WE ADMINISTER THE WORLD'S LARGEST HEALTH INSURANCE
PROGRAMS. WE HELP TO DEVELOP CURES AND
TREATMENTS OF PEOPLE WHO BENEFIT FROM SCIENCE ALL
OVER THE WORLD. WE OVERSEE EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT HELP SHAPE THE YOUTH OF THIS
COUNTRY, AND BECAUSE THOSE PROGRAMS ARE SO IMPORTANT,
WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE THEM WORK AS EFFECTIVELY
AS POSSIBLE. AND IT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT
IN TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES WHEN TAXPAYERS COUNT ON TO US
MAKE SURE EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS AND WE'RE MORE
CONSTANTLY BEING CHALLENGED TO BE MORE EFFICIENT AND MORE
EFFECTIVE WITH OUR RESOURCES. THAT REALLY IS WHAT TODAY IS
ALL ABOUT, FINDING NEW, BETTER WAYS TO SERVE THE
PEOPLE WHO DEPEND ON US. OUR WINNERS TODAY DEVELOP
AND IMPLEMENT IDEAS TO HAVE THE CHALLENGE TO VASTLY
IMPROVE OUR COUNTRY'S HEALTH. THEIR INNOVATIONS RANGE FROM
SIMPLIFYING THE WAYS C.D.C EXPLAINS FINDINGS FOR THE
PUBLIC TO CREATING LANDMARK GUIDELINES TO IMPROVE THE
NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF THE FOODS SERVED IN FEDERAL
FACILITIES. AND AS JUDGES, I HAVE TO
TELL THAT YOU WE HAD TO MAKE SOME VERY TOUGH CHOICES.
THERE ARE A LOT MORE THAN SIX GOOD IDEAS THAT CAME
FORWARD. AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF
THE TEAMS WHO SUBMITTED THEIR IDEAS AND ULTIMATELY
OUR GOAL IS CREATED DAY IN AND YEAR OUT YEAR-ROUND
CULTURE OF INNOVATION HERE AT THE DEPARTMENT.
THIS ISN'T A TWICE A YEAR EVENT TO BE INNOVATIVE TWO
TIMES A YEAR AND GO BACK TO BUSINESS AS USUAL.
IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
EVERY SINGLE HHS EMPLOYEE SHOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE
PRESENTING A NEW IDEA, AND I HAVE ENCOURAGED OUR SENIOR
STAFF TO KEEP AN OPEN EYE, AN OPEN DOOR, AND CERTAINLY
AN OPEN MIND TO WAYS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE OUR PROCESS.
THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR DEPARTMENT FACES AND FRANKLY
THAT OUR COUNTRY FACES ARE TOO GREAT TO WASTE THE
TALENT OF OUR EXEXTRAORDINARY WORKERS.
SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN HERE FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES.
YOU KNOW OUR PROGRAMS AND THE PEOPLE WE SERVE BETTER
THAN ANYONE ELSE. NO ONE IS IN A BETTER
POSITION TO FIND CREATIVE WAYS TO IMPROVE THE DELIVERY
OF SERVICES AND CARE. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT SO
MANY HHS EMPLOYEES ARE DOING. TAKE ONE OF THE FINALIST
FROM LAST YEAR'S HHS COMPETITION, FOR EXAMPLE.
TEXT FOR BABY USES TECHNOLOGY TO PROVIDE
HARD-TO-REACH POPULATIONS WITH PRENATAL INFORMATION.
SINCE THE PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED LAST YEAR,
ENROLLMENT BY MOTHERS HAS BEEN GROWING RAPIDLY.
TODAY MORE THAN 225,000 MOTHERS HAVE RECEIVED NEARLY
18 MILLION HEALTH MESSAGES WITH HEALTH TIPS AND
REMINDERS AND THAT MEANS THEIR BABIES ARE GOING TO
GET A HEALTHIER START AND THEIR BABIES ARE OFF TO A
BETTER FUTURE. AND THAT'S JUST ONE IDEA.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO TODAY'S WINNERS AND TO ALL OF THE
TEAMS WHO FOUND THE TIME AND ENERGY IF THEIR PACKED
SCHEDULES TO ENTER THE CONTEST AND INSPIRE THEIR
COLLEAGUES. CROID I'D LIKE TO CHALLENGE
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU IN EVERY DEPARTMENT TO KEEP
INVATING. KEEP THINKING ABOUT NEW WAYS
YOU CAN HELP HHS CARRY OUT ITS MISSION TO IMPROVE THE
HEALTH OF THIS COUNTRY AND TO DELIVER HUMAN SERVICES.
I PROMISE THAT WHEN THERE IS A GOOD IDEA TO BE HEARD, WE
WILL BE LISTENING. SO AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK
YOU ALL AND CONGRATULATE THE WINNERS OF TODAY'S AWARDS.
NOW I WANT TO TAKE JUST A MINUTE TO INTRODUCE TODAY'S
KEYNOTE SPEAKER JOHN BERRY, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE
UNITED STATES OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT.
NOW, JOHN HAS MADE GREAT CONTRIBUTIONS IN AND OUT OF
GOVERNMENT. HIS SERVICE INCLUDES STINTS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE
TREASURY DEPARTMENT AND THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
AND NOW AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S CHIEF PEOPLE
PERSON, HE'S TAKEN ON PRESIDENT OBAMA'S CHALLENGE
TO MAKE GOVERNMENT COOL AGAIN AND HAS BEEN A LEADER
IN PROMOTING INNOVATION IN THE FEDERAL WORK FORCE.
AND HE ALSO SIGNS OUR PAYCHECKS, SO WE ALL NEED TO
BE VERY NICE TO JOHN. HE HAS BEEN A TERRIFIC
PARTNER IN MY TIME AS A ACCOUNT OFFICER IN MOVING
FORWARD AND AMONG THE OTHER THINGS THAT OPM HAS DONE IS
REALLY HELP US NOT ONLY DELIVER THE HIGH-RISK
INSURANCE PLAN THAT NOW IS AVAILABLE TO MILLIONS OF
AMERICANS AS PART OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT BUT
CONTINUING TO HELP THINGS STRATEGICALLY ABOUT HOW WE
MOVE THE HEALTH OF THIS COUNTRY AND OUR WORK FORCE
FORWARD. SO IT'S MY HONOR TO
INTRODUCE HIM TO YOU TODAY. PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING
MY FRIEND JOHN BERRY. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU FOR SUCH A WARM WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION.
I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO START A WEEK THAN TO
BE HERE TALKING ABOUT INNOVATION WITH YOU AND YOUR
AMAZING TEAM AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE OF
THE STORIES FROM BILL DURING THE AWARDS PRESENTATIONS.
ALSO I WANT TO BRING MY PERSONAL THANKS TO WHAT YOU
DO. WE TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANT
JOB AND THE ROLE THAT YOU PLAY IN HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU AS SOMEBODY WHOSE PARENT
RELIED SPECIFICALLY ON MEDICARE AND IN THEIR
DECLINING YEARS, I AM PERSONALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE
DIGNITY AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT YOU ENABLE THEM TO
HAVE AS A PERSON. SO AS ONE PERSON, LET ME ADD
MY PERSONAL THANKS TO YOU TO THE AMAZING WORK YOU DO
EVERY DAY TO MAKE OUR WORLD AND OUR COUNTRY BETTER AND
BRIGHTER. SO GOD BLESS YOU AND THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. BILL, IT'S A TREAT TO BE
HERE WITH YOU, AS ALWAYS, NED AND TODD, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE DOING EVERY DAY.
AND NED PICKED UP THE TAB FOR LUNCH ON FRIDAY.
IT'S MY TURN NEXT TIME, NED. I WANT TO THANK YOU.
I WANT TO INTRODUCE JUST ONE PERSON WHO IS HERE WITH ME.
DURING THE -- I SAID WELL I DON'T KNOW IF YOU TURN TO
THE 52-YEAR-OLD GUY TO TURN TO COOL.
SORT OF LIKE WE BECOME ANTI-COOL ONCE YOU GO OVER
THAT, BUT I FOUND A YOUNG MAN WHO DOESN'T HAVE A
BACKGROUND IN HR BUT HE GRADUATED IN ROCKET ENGINEERING,
AND GOT HIS M.B.A. FROM STANFORD ANDESOMETIMES IT
DOES TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTIST. AND MATT COL, HE WHO IS OUR
HEAD OF INNOVATION -- [APPLAUSE]
-- IS WITH US TODAY. AS FEDERAL WORKERS, WE JUST
SIMPLY MUST MAKE INNOVATION OUR BUSINESS.
INNOVATION IS NOT JUST THE ICING ON THE CAKE OF OUR
PROGRAMS. I WOULD ARGUE IT'S THE CAKE.
WE CAN'T JUST SETTLE FOR THE STATUS QUO.
WE ALWAYS NEED TO BE ASKING OURSELVES HOW DO WE MAKE
HEALTH INSURANCE MORE AVAILABLE IN EVERY PART OF
OUR COUNTRY? HOW DO WE MAKE IT MORE
AFFORDABLE? HOW DO WE AVOID ACCIDENT IN
THE FIRST PLACE AND ENCOURAGE WELLNESS BEHAVIORS?
HOW CAN WE MAKE AMERICANS' LIVES A LITTLE BETTER, A
LITTLE SAFER? AND EVERYONE'S FAVORITE
QUESTION, HOW DO WE MAKE THE PAPERWORK MOVE QUICKER?
WELL, AT OPM, WE WORK WITH YOU HERE AT HHS, AND ALL
AGENCIES ON TOUGH QUESTIONS LIKE THIS.
WE ARE FOCUSED IN OUR INITIAL EFFORTS ON TRYING TO
SPEED UP AND INCREASE OUR PRESENCE OF VETERANS IN OUR
FEDERAL CIVILIAN SIDE OF THE HOUSE JLES AS WELL AS
ENCOURAGING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO CONSIDER THE
FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE. WE HAVE WORKED AT SPEEDING
UP HIRING AND SIMPLYIFYING THE WAY THAT STUDENTS CAN
GET INTO OUR FEDERAL FAMILY. AND RECENT GRADUATES AS WELL.
AND IN OCTOBER, WE WILL BE LAUNCHING A REFRESHED U.S.A.
JOBS WEBSITE THAT WE'RE BRINGING IN-HOUSE.
IT HAS BEEN RUN UNDER A CONTRACT FOR THE PAST YEARS,
AND IT'S DONE A GOOD JOB, BUT ALL OF THE CHIEF HUMAN
CAPITAL OFFICERS GOT TOGETHER AND SAID YOU KNOW,
IF YOU BRING THIS IN-HOUSE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO IT
FASTER AND TURN AROUND MORE INNOVATION BETTER AND SO WE
LOOK FORWARD TO LAUNCHING THAT IN EARLY OCTOBER.
NEXT UP IS INNOVATION ON THE PRESIDENT'S RECENT EXECUTIVE
ORDER ON DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.
SOMETHING WE ALL WRESTLE WITH.
THE COMMON THREAD IN THESE INITIATIVES IS THAT THEY
HELP US TO TAP INTO UNDERUTILIZED POOLS OF
TALENT AND THE DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT THAT HAS CREATED
EVERYTHING FROM THE RENAISSANCE TO ROCK AND ROLL.
TODAY I WANT TO FOCUS ON A FEW OF THE THINGS THAT HHS
AND OPM HAVE DONE TOGETHER WITH INNOVATORS LIKE MANY OF
THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM. BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET PEOPLE
WITH DIFFERENT SETS OF SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND
EXPERIENCE, AND PUT THEM IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY'RE
ALL ENCOURAGED AS THE SECRETARY JUST DID
TO SPEAK FREELY AND SHARE IDEAS AND THEN POSE BIG
QUESTIONS ABOUT AND BIG CHALLENGES AND BIG JOBS --
THAT IS THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WILL SPARK AND SPONSOR
INNOVATION. NOW, WE'RE PREACHING TO THE
CHOIR HERE, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, OUR INNOVATION
WINNERS TODAY AND YOUR FAMILIES GET IT.
AND IT'S REALLY HOW BUILDING ON YOUR SPIRIT, HOW THE HHS/OPM
INNOVATION ENTERPRISE, I WILL CALL IT, HAS COME
TOGETHER. WE DON'T HAVE A FORMAL MOU
OR ANYTHING DETAILING SOME OVERARCHING INNOVATION PLAN,
BUT IT FEELS LIKE WE DO, BECAUSE WE'VE WORKED SO WELL
TOGETHER OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.
AND THERE ARE SO MANY NEM WE JUST -- WE COULDN'T DO WHAT
WE DO WITHOUT YOUR HELP AND SO IT HAS BECOME SEAMLESS.
WE'VE WORKED WITH YOU TO HELP BRING WORK LIFE OPTIONS.
I WAS SO EXCITED TO SEE YOUR ZUMBA ON THE PLAZA POSTER AS
I CAME IN. WE'VE OFFERED A LOT OF THESE
SIMILAR CLASSES. THOSE HEALTH AND WELLNESS
PROGRAMS ARE SO ESSENTIAL AND SO CRITICAL.
TWO WEEKS AGO WE WORKED WITH YOU AND SPONSOR AID
CONFERENCE THAT OVER 300 AGENCY STAFFERS CAME
TOGETHER TO LOOK AT HOW DO WE IMPROVE HEALTH AND WELLNESS
AND HOW DO WE TAKE IT GOVERNMENT-WIDE?
ON THE HEALTH IT FRONT, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH TODD
AND HIS OFFICE, AS WELL AS THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR
PLANNING AND EVALUATION AND OTHERS HERE AT HHS, TRYING
TO FIND COMMON SENSE TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS THAT
YOU HAVE DEVELOPED HERE THAT WE CAN TAKE INTO THE FEDERAL
EMPLOYEES HEALTH BENEFIT PROGRAMS INTO THE INSURANCE
CARRIERS' WORLD. ONE IT IDEA THAT YOU ALL
CAME ONE THAT I JUST LOVE IS THE BLUE BUTTON.
WHY DOESN'T EVERY RELEVANT WEBSITE HAVE A BIG BLUE
BUTTON WHERE WE CAN JUST CLICK AND DOWNLOAD OUR
INFORMATION? WE'VE GOT TO GET THERE.
I THINK IT'S A BOLD STEP FORWARD AND IT'S ONE WE WANT
TO BUILD ON. AND WHILE WE'RE AT IT, LET'S
MAKE DATA EASILY TRANSFERABLE BETWEEN PHYSICIANS AND
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND INSURERS.
TOGETHER, WITH YOU AND HEALTH SERVICES, WE'RE GOING
TO BE WELCOMING THOUSANDS OF NEW TRIBAL EMPLOYEES INTO
THE FEH B.P.. AND WE WANT TO TRY TO MAKE
THAT TRANSITION SMOOTH, BOTH FOR THOSE NEW EMPLOYEES
COMING IN AS WELL AS OUR EXISTING.
THE FH B.P. SMOKING CESSATION BENEFIT WOULD NOT HAVE
HAPPENED WITHOUT HOWARD AND THE ENTIRE AMAZING TEAM AT
CDC. AND MY HAT IS OFF TO THEM.
THEY CAME IN AND THEY HAD SUCH A PERCENT WAISTIVE
ARGUMENT THAT THEY'D GOTTEN ABOUT A THIRD OF THE WAY
THROUGH AND I SAID WELL, LET'S DO IT.
AND HOWARD AND THE TEAM WERE SO EXCITED ABOUT IT THAT
THEY JUST KEPT MAKING THE ARGUMENT OVER.
AND IT WAS LIKE THEY FELT LIKE I WASN'T GOING TO AGREE
AND I HAD TO CONVINCE THEM. I SAYS YOU KNOW, I AGREE.
WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO? AND BUT SO WITH THAT FIRST
MEETING, WE WERE ABLE TO DESIGN A BENEFIT PROGRAM AND
SET ITS ACTUALLY VIETNAM AND DO ALL THE RESEARCH BECAUSE
OF ALL THE WORK AYOU ALL HAD DONE SO WELL.
WE LAUNCHED THIS -- I THINK IT WAS IN A MATTER OF THREE
WEEKS AND WE WERE ABLE TO FIT IT INTO THE BENEFIT
PACKAGE AND TO DESIGN A SORT OF THE TWO QUIT ATTEMPTS PER
YEAR, NO CO-PAY. MULTIPLE COUNSELING SESSIONS.
THIS IS GOING TO BENEFIT AND SAVE LIVES AND IMPROVE LIVES.
AND IT ALLOWS US TO OFFER A BENEFIT THAT IS
STATE-OF-THE-ART TO THE SCIENCE THAT YOU HAVE
DEVELOPED, YOU CRAFTED, YOU CREATED.
AND AGAIN, WITHOUT THAT PARTNERSHIP, WE JUST
COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT. NOW, YOU NOTICED A THEME
HERE. WHEN HHS AND OPM WORK
TOGETHER, PEOPLE'S LIVES END UP HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER.
AND ALL OF THE EXAMPLES I JUST MENTIONED, IMPORTANT AS
THEY ARE, ONLY AFFECT OUR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES FAMILY.
OUR NEXT COLLABORATION IS GOING TO GO MUCH FARTHER.
WE HAVE STEPPED INTO THE REALM OF INNOVATION, WHERE
WE'RE REALLY GOING TO BE IN NEW TERRAIN AND BUILDING
SOMETHING NEW. AND YOU ALL ARE ALREADY HARD
AT WORK ON THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AND THE CULMINATION
OF DECADES OF EFFORT THAT WENT INTO THE CREATION OF
THIS IMPORTANT LANDMARK ACT. WE WERE SO PROUD TO PLAY OUR
SMALL PIECE GEORGE -- WORKING WITH YOU TO HELP
STAND UP THE PREEXISTING CONDITION PLAN FOR THOSE
STATES THAT DECIDED NOT TO PLAY IN THE OPTION.
I THINK IT WAS ABOUT 24 STATES ENDED UP.
AND SO WE WERE WORKING HAND IN GLOVE WITH YOU.
WE MET THE 90-DAY STANDARD UNDER THE LAW.
PEOPLE SAID IT COULDN'T BE DONE.
TOGETHER WE DID IT. TODAY WE'RE PROVIDING
QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HEALTH INSURANCE TO TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS WHO ARE MOST IN NEED AND WHO HAD
BEEN DECLINED COVERAGE DUE TO THEIR HEALTH STATUS.
THIS PROGRAM HAS ALREADY SAVED LIVES, LIVES.
ANYONE WHO HAS SPENT TIME IN WASHINGTON KNOWS THAT THREE
MONTHS IS PRETTY QUICK, BLAZING SPEEDS, ACCORDING TO
OLD WASHINGTON CLOCK STANDARDS.
BUT IT GOT DONE BECAUSE OF OUR STRONG COOPERATION AND
COLLABORATION AND WE DIDN'T LET SILOS AND OLD RULES GET
IN THE WAY. AND, OF COURSE, THERE IS A
VERY BIG HORIZON IN FRONT OF US.
THE STATE HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGES THAT WILL PROVIDE
COVERAGE TO AN ESTIMATED 31 MILLION AMERICANS UNDER THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. AS YOU MAY BE AWARE, OPM IS
WORKING WITH YOU TO HELP STAND UP THOSE MULTI-STATE
EXCHANGES AND YOU I KNOW WORKING ON A MILLION DETAILS
ABOUT THIS BEFORE 2014. BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW
IT IS BOTH OUR PLEASURE AND OUR PRIVILEGE TO HELP
SHOULDER A BIT OF THAT BURDEN WITH YOU.
LET ME JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO MAKE THE CASE FOR GOVERNMENT
FOR WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO AND INTERWHY IT'S
IMPORTANT. THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM KNOW
THAT WE CAN'T JUST WAVE A WAND AND CREATE A WORLD WE
WANT TO LIVE IN. IT TAKES WORK.
IT TAKES DETAILED WORK, AND THE WORK ON CAPITOL HILL IS
ONLY HALF THE BATTLE. THEY SET THE VISION UP ON
THE HILL. THEY SAY WE WANT ALL
CHILDREN TO BE FULLY VACCINATED BEFORE ENTERING
SCHOOL AND HERE IS X MILLIONS TO DO IT, BUT YOU
ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY TAKE THAT VISION AND MAKE IT
HAPPEN. YOU ARE THE PEOPLE WHO THINK
THROUGH THE THORNY OPERATIONAL QUESTIONS.
YOU ARE THE INNOVATORS. WHEN CONGRESS SAYS THERE
SHALL BE TWO MULTI-STATE PLANS ON EACH EXCHANGE, IT'S
HHS AND OPM'S COLLABORATION THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE THAT
HAPPEN. IT IS A PUBLIC TRUST AND A
PARTNERSHIP THAT WE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT
YOU'VE DONE OTHER THAN AND TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE
VERY PLEASED TO BE WORKING WITH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT
ARMS HERE ATHHS TO FIGURE THIS OUT.
BUT BEYOND THE DETAILS OF THE LAW, WE NEVER LOSE SIGHT
OF WHY WE'RE DOING THIS. IT'S SO THAT THE PEOPLE WE
SERVE WILL GET THE COVERAGE THEY NEED.
GOING FORWARD, WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE JOINED AT HIP
ON MULTI-STATE WORKPLACE WELLNESS, HEALTH IT, AND TO
LOOK FOR NEW WAYS TO EXPAND AND DEVELOP THE HHS/OPM
INNOVATION ENTERPRISE. AND AS WE DO, LET ME MAKE
ONE REQUEST OF TODAY'S HONOREES.
THINK ABOUT HOW YOUR INNOVATION HAPPENED.
WHERE DID THE IDEA COME FROM?
HOW DID IT GET TESTED AND APPROVED?
HOW DO WE KNOW IT'S WORKING? HOW DID YOU NOTICE THE NEED
IN THE FIRST PLACE? HOW DO WE INNOVATE AGAIN IN
THE FUTURE? SHARE AND KEEP SHARING YOUR
IDEAS WITH TODD AND NED AND BILL AND THE SECRETARY AND
BRING THEM UP TO THE WHITE HOUSE-SPONSORED INNOVATION
COHORT. TATE GREAT TEAM OF PEOPLE
ACROSS THE GOVERNMENT. THEY'VE COME IN AND HELPED
US DESIGN AN OPEN GOVERNMENT PLATFORM.
IT'S BEEN PHENOMENAL WORKING WITH THEM.
AND I JUST HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO ASK THOSE
QUESTIONS, BECAUSE IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO COLLABORATION
AND INNOVATION. COLLABORATION IS GETTING THE
PEOPLE WITH THE RIGHT SKILLS ON EACH PROJECT, WHEREVER
AND IN WHATEVER AGENCY THEY MAY BE.
IT'S SHARING THE KNOWLEDGE AND JOINTLY DEVELOPING AND
REFINING THOSE IDEAS, BREAKING THROUGH THE SILO
WALLS. AND INNOVATION IS
SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTING THOSE IDEAS TO PROVIDE THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE WITH BETTER SERVICE AT LOWER COSTS.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'VE DONE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO
RECOGNIZE AND APPLAUD. YOU AND YOUR TEAMS ARE THE
PROBLEM-SOLVERS WHO WILL MEET TODAY'S CHALLENGES, AS
WELL AS TOMORROW'S. YOU KNOW, IN THE LAST
CENTURY AMERICA'S CIVIL SERVANTS, BOTH CIVILIAN AND
MILITARY, HAVE SPLIT THE ATOM.
WE HAVE ATTACHED TOUCHED THE FACE OF THE MOON.
IN FACT, THE PEOPLE WHO WALKED ON IT STILL WALK
AMONG US TODAY. WE'VE DECODED THE HUMAN
GENOME AND INVENTED THE INTERNET.
ALL WHILE WE ARE BEATING BACK THE GREAT DEPRESSION
AND DEFEATING FASCISM, COMMUNISM AND MUCH MORE.
THE QUESTION IS WHAT WILL WE DO NOW IN THIS CENTURY TO
CARRY THAT TORCH OF CIVILIZATION HIGHER AND
FARTHER? HOW WILL WE BUILD A
GOVERNMENT THAT ADAPTS AND ENDURES AND IN AN AGE WHERE
COMMUNICATION IS INSTANT AND CONNECTIONS ARE NOW GLOBAL?
I WOULD ARGUE WE'LL DO IT BY HAVING THE RIGHT PEOPLE WITH
THE RIGHT KNOW-HOW AND THE SAME CAN-DO ATTITUDE THAT
HAS PERMEATED ALL OF OUR HISTORY.
WE WILL DO IT WITH EACH OF YOU.
FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, GOD BLESS YOU.
FOR WHAT YOU WILL DO, THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU AND
GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
[APPLAUSE] >> JOHN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I LOVE TO LISTEN TO JOHN BERRY.
IT'S BEEN ONE OF THE REAL DELIGHTS TO GET TO KNOW AND
WORK WITH JOHN. HE HAS BEEN INENTIRELY
UNSELFISH WITH HIS TIME AND ENERGY AND HIS KNOWLEDGE.
I'M AFRAID HE HAS FORGOTTEN ABOUT THE WORKINGS OF
GOVERNMENT THAN I'LL EVER KNOW BUT HE NEVER HES IT'S A
TO HELP ME FIGURE IT OUT AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT, JOHN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT'S NOW MY PRIVILEGE TO
INTRODUCE A MAN WHO I WORK WITH MOST CLOSELY ON A DAY
TO DAY BASIS AROUND HERE AND MUST TELL YOU WHEN TODD AND
I WERE GETTING THIS ACTIVITY STARTED SOME MONTHS, MANY
MONTHS NOW AGO, I STILL REMEMBER WE WENT IN TO TALK
TO BILL ABOUT IT AND KIND OF LIKE WITH JOHN, WE DIDN'T
HAVE TO AND HE WILL SELL. HE SAID YEAH, WHEN DO WE GET
STARTS, GUYS AND THAT'S WHAT GOT US HERE TODAY SO IT'S A
REAL PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE A MAN WHO HAS REALLY PROVIDED
THE LEADERSHIP THAT LETS US DO ALL OF THIS ON A DAY-TO-DAY
BASIS, MY COLLEAGUE AND I HOPE TODAY I CAN SAY FRIEND
THE DEPUTY SECRETARY BILL KOR.
[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, NED.
CERTAINLY FRIENDSHIP COMES ALONG WITH ALL THE
COLLEAGUES HERE IN THE DEPARTMENT.
AND CERTAINLY WITH YOU. I HAVE TO BEGIN BY JUST
SAYING ONE OR TWO THINGS ABOUT JOHN BERRY.
YOU ALL HAVE HAD A SENSE OF IT TODAY IN HIS REMARKS.
YOU'VE PROBABLY DIDN'T REALIZE HOW MUCH WE DO WITH
OPM, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT'S JUST A FRACTION OF
WHAT JOHN BERRY DOES ON BEHALF OF OUR GOVERNMENT.
HE IS ONE OF THE GREATEST EXAMPLES OF PUBLIC SERVICE
AS. YOU ARE.
BUT I HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH JOHN ON THE
PRESIDENT'S MANAGEMENT COUNCIL AND I CAN TELL THAT
YOU ACROSS THE ADMINISTRATION, JOHN IS SO
HIGHLY REGARDED AND HIS LEADERSHIP IS SO DESIRED.
AND WHEN YOU GO DOWN THAT LIST, IT JUST MAKES US
REALIZE THAT NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE A GREAT NATION BUT
WE'VE GOT GREAT PARTNERS THAT ARE HELPING US
IMPLEMENT IT AND SO JOHN, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE
DONE FOR OUR DEPARTMENT AND MOSTLY FOR THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE, WHICH IS WHAT I KNOW YOU ARE SO CONCERNED ABOUT.
SO WHAT WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR.
THE SECRETARY'S PICKS AND OUR HONORABLE MENTION
AWARDEES. LET ME ALSO JUST WELCOME
EACH OF YOU HERE. THE SECRETARY TALKED ABOUT
THIS. TODD AND NED TALK ABOUT THIS
A LOT IN INNOVATION COUNCIL. WE WANT TO MAKE HHS A PLACE
WHERE THERE IS A CULTURE OF INNOVATION.
WE HEAR REPEATEDLY THAT WE'VE GOT TO CREATE A
CULTURE WHERE PEOPLE, ALL OF OUR COLLEAGUES KNOW THAT
THERE IS ROOM TO INNOVATE AND THAT THERE IS A DESIRE
FOR YOU ALL TO INNOVATE. AND WE NOT ONLY CAN'T JUST
BE WORDS. IT'S GOT TO BE ACTIONS AND
ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAVE THE INNOVATION COUNCIL AND
ONE OF THE REASONS WE DO THESE AWARDS IS WE WANT
PEOPLE ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT TO KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS
FOR US IN ACCOMPLISHING OUR MISSION, FOR EACH OF YOU TO
HAVE THE FREEDOM TO IN RATE AND WE CERTAINLY WANT TO
COMMUNICATE THAT TODAY WITH THESE AWARDS, THAT HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS TO OUR IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR
RESPONSIBILITIES. YOU'VE HEARD EARLIER THAT WE
HAD THE NUMBER, I BELIEVE IS 85 INNOVATION SUBMISSIONS.
21 WERE PUT UP FOR COMMUNITY VOTE.
WE HAD ALMOST 8,000 PEOPLE VOTED ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT,
AND TODAY WE HAVE THE PLEASURE OF INTRODUCING OUR
SIXTH FINALIST. I CAN TELL YOU, HAVING SAT
WITH THE SECRETARY, WHEN SHE WAS MAKING THE CHOICES THAT
SHE SAID IT WAS NOT EASY, AND SHE ALWAYS SAID TO US DO
I HAVE TO CHOOSE? CAN'T WE JUST HAVE SIX?
CAN'T WE DO THEM ALL? AND YOU REALLY WOULD LOVE TO
HIGHLIGHT EACH OF THE 85 APPLICATIONS THAT WE GOT,
BUT WE'RE GOING TO START NOW -- WE'RE GOING TO INTRODUCE
A LITTLE DRAMA INTO TODAY RATHER THAN JUST SORT OF
GOING THROUGH THE HONORABLE MENTIONS AND THE SECRETARY'S
PICKS. WE'RE GOING TO MIX IT UP AND
DO ONE EACH SO THAT THERE IS DRAMA TO THE VERY END.
IN EACH CASE I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE THE TITLE OF THE
INNOVATION AND TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT AND THEN
INTRODUCE OUR COLLEAGUES WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT
INNOVATION AND WE'LL HAVE THEM COME UP AND STAND ON
THE SIDE AND THEN WE'LL ALL COME OUT AND RECEIVE THEIR
AWARDS. DO YOU WANT TO COME IN THIS
WAY? IS THAT THE PLAN?
OKAY. SO FIRST LET ME BEGIN WITH
THE FIRST OF THE SECRETARY'S THREE HONORABLE MENTIONS,
WHICH IS HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABILITY GUIDELINES
FOR FEDERAL CONCESSIONS AND VENDING OPERATIONS.
THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, THE
F.D.A. AND THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION AND
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE -- AND WE'RE SO
PLEASED TO HAVE GSA AND USDA HERE WITH US -- HAVE JOINED
FORCES TO DEVELOP LANDMARK GUIDELINES THAT ADDRESS BOTH
THE NUTRITIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF
FOOD SERVICE. THE HEALTH AND
SUSTAINABILITY GUIDELINES HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY
IMPLEMENTED ALREADY AT THE HHS HEADQUARTERS AND TEN
OTHER GSA FACILITIES NATIONWIDE AND EVENTUALLY WILL BE EMPLOYED
IN THE FOOD IN THE FOOD CHOICES AND OPERATIONS AND AT ALL HHS AND
GSA FACILITIES. SO JOIN ME AND LET ME GO
THROUGH THE WHOLE LIST IN WELCOMING OUR COLLEAGUES.
FIRST WE HAVE FROM CDC MARJORIE COY AND JOEL
KIMMONS, FROM F.D.A. CRYSTAL RIVERS, FROM GSA AMIEE WHITEMAN,
AND FROM THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY HOLLY MCPEAK.
KRIS GILLHAM AND AMY KOEHLER. SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING
AND CONGRATULATING ALL THESE FOLKS.
[APPLAUSE] >> IT'S SO GOOD TO MEET YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> CONGRATULATIONS. GREAT JOB.
CONGRATULATIONS. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK.
HEY, CONGRATULATIONS. GOOD TO SEE YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS. OH, THANK YOU,
CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS.
>> AND NOW FOR THE FIRST OF THE THREE SECRETARY'S PICKS.
THE NATIONAL DATABASE FOR AUTISM RESEARCH.
[APPLAUSE] TO ACCELERATE PROGRESS IN
AUTISM RESEARCH THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
DEVELOPED THE NATIONAL DATABASE AUTISM RESEARCH.
THIS REPOSITIVETRY ALLOWS RESEARCHERS TO ASK NEW TYPES
OF QUESTIONS AND QUICKLY COMBINE INFORMATION IN NOVEL
WAYS TO DEVELOP ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS.
NATIONAL DATABASE IS POISED TO BRING TOGETHER 90% OR
MORE OF ALL HUMAN RESEARCH DATA CONCERNING AUTISM
SPECTRUM DISORDERS. JOIN ME IN WELCOMING THESE
FOLKS TO THE STAND -- TO THE PODIUM.
FROM THE NAIJ NIH MICHAEL FROIN, GREG FARBER, DANIEL
HALL AND MATTHEW MCCULA. CONGRATULATIONS.
>> CONGRATULATIONS. >> NEXT WE HAVE THE SECOND
OF OUR THREE HONORABLE MENTIONS, AND THAT IS THE
APPLICATION TEMPLATES TO INCREASE AND SUPPORT TRIBAL
GRANTEES. THE TRIBAL CHILD WELFARE
TEAM WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN
AND FAMILIES REGION 4 CHILDREN'S BUREAU HAS
CREATED AN INNOVATIVE SOLUTION FOR INCREASING THE
NUMBER OF TRIBES APPLYING FOR TITLE 4-B GRANTS, WHICH
ARE NON-COMPETITIVE GRANTS THAT TRIBAL WELFARE PROGRAMS
ARE ELIGIBLE FOR. THIS INVOLVES THE
DEVELOPMENT OF APPLICATION TEMPLATES FOR TWO KEY
ASPECTS OF THE GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS.
SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THIS INNOVATION ALMOST TWO
YEARS AGO, NEARLY ALL OF THE 67 RECOGNIZED TRIBES WITHIN
THE STATES OF LOUISIANA, TEXAS, OKLAHOMA, AND NEW
MEXICO ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF TITLE 4B FUNDING.
SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN THANKING AND CONGRATULATING
AND WELCOMING NANETTE BISHOP AND DANA HUCKABEE.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU SO MUCH AND
CONGRATULATIONS. >> THE SECOND OF THE THREE
SECRETARY'S PICKS IS VITAL SIGNS.
THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE AND CONTROL PREVENTION HAS
DEVELOPED A TRANSFORMATIONAL PROGRAM THAT DEVELOPS THE
WAY SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION IS DISTILLED AND RELEASED BY
CDC. IT DEVELOPS CUSTOMIZED
MESSAGES WRITTEN FOR PUBLIC AND PROFESSIONAL AUDIENCES.
THE MESSAGES ARE PROVIDED IN MANY FORMATS, INCLUDING
THROUGH TRADITIONAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA.
IN ITS FIRST YEAR, THE PROGRAM'S ESTIMATED REACH
WAS APPROXIMATELY -- AND I CHECKED THIS NUMBER TO BE
SURE THAT WE HAD THE RIGHT LETTER -- 3.7 BILLION
POTENTIAL VUGS, VASTLY EXCEEDING OUR ORIGINAL
EXPECTATIONS AND I DOUBLE CHECKED TO MAKE SURE IT
WASN'T AN M AND IT'S A B. PLEASE JOIN ME AND LET ME
NAME THEM ALL FIRST AND WELCOMING AND CONGRATULATING
BARBARA BOWMAN, RONALD CAMPBELL, CAROL CRAWFORD,
KAREN REESHA, RICHARD SCHIEBER.
LYNN SOKLER, STEPHEN THACKER, AND THOMAS SKINNER,, WHO
COULDN'T BE WITH US BUT PLEASE JOIN ME IN
CONGRATULATING AND WELCOMING THEM.
[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GREAT WORK. CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>
SO WE HAVE THE LAST OF OUR HONORABLE MENTIONS AND
THAT IS VIDEO SEARCH. THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF
MEDICINE, WHICH IS PART OF THE NIH, HAS DEVELOPED
UNIQUE NEW SOFTWARE THAT OFFERS RAPID RETRIEVAL OF
MEDICAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH FILMS CREATED BY THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING HISTORICAL MATERIALS.
THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE'S VIDEO SEARCH
INNOVATION HOLDS TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL FOR ENHANCING
COLLABORATION AMONG GOVERNMENT AGENCIES,
MAKING VIDEOS OF CURRENT LECTURES, CONFERENCES,
GOVERNANCE COMMITTEES, TRAINING MEETINGS, AND
OFFICIAL OBSERVANCES MORE ACCESSIBLE.
SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING AND THANKING OUR COLLEAGUES
FROM NIH, AND LET ME GO THROUGH THEM.
JOHN DOYLE, EDWARD LUCZAK, SIMON LIU, WEI MA, JENNIFER
MARILL, JOHN REES AND DORON SHALVI.
PLEASE WELCOME THEM AND LET'S GIVE THEM OUR
CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS.
THANKS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GREAT JOB. >> AND THAT LEAVES US WITH
THE LAST OF OUR SECRETARY'S PICKS, WHICH IS THE DIODE
LAMP AND DID ANYBODY BRING ONE?
SORRY ABOUT THAT. THERE YOU GO.
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND
HEALTH DEVELOPED A NEW CAP LAMP USING A SPECIAL FORM OF
ILLUMINATION, KNOWN AS LIGHT-OMITTING DIODES.
USING THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY, A MINER'S CAP LAMP CAN BE
PROGRAMMED TO SUIT HIS OR HER INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND
PROVIDE LIGHTING SUPERIOR TO THE TRADITIONAL SINGLE LIGHT
BEAM SPOT. THE KNOWLEDGE GAINED FROM THIS
RESEARCH HAS RESULTED IN FIVE MAJOR CHANGES IN THE INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD FOR CAP LAMPS, BENEFITING MINERS WORLDWIDE.
SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING AND CONGRATULATING OUR
COLLEAGUES FROM C.D.C., SEAN GALLAGHER, GRANT KING,
TIMOTHY LUTZ, TIMOTHY MATTY, MICHAEL REYES, GRANT KING,
MIGUEL REYES, AND JOHN SAMMARCO. CONGRATULATIONS.
[APPLAUSE] >> MY GRANDFATHER WAS A COAL
MINER IN PENNSYLVANIA. NOT ONLY MY MOM AND DAD BUT
MY GRANDFATHER, SO YOU ALL ARE GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE
DONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
CONGRATULATIONS. GREAT WORK.
CONGRATULATIONS. THANKS.
>> SO JUST A FEW REMARKS. FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS
TO EACH OF YOU. WE ARE SO PROUD OF THIS
DEPARTMENT, SO PROUD OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO LEAD THE WAY
IN INNOVATION AND HELP US SPREAD THE WORD.
I KNOW YOU ALL ARE GOING TO HAVE LUNCH HERE SHORTLY.
AND HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK FURTHER ABOUT HOW WE'RE
DOING THIS AND COMMUNICATING OUR HOPES AND GOALS FOR
INNOVATION HERE IN THE DEPARTMENT.
YOU ALL ARE OUTSTANDING EXAMPLES OF THE INNOVATION
THAT IS NOW OCCURRING IN HHS AND OF THE ENTREPRENEURS
AMONG US AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL SERVE AS INSPIRATION
FOR ALL THE OTHERS WHO ARE WATCHING TODAY AND HEAR
ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE DONE. AND THAT YOUR COLLEAGUES
WILL SEEK YOU OUT TO LEARN FROM YOU SO THAT THEY CAN
SOON BE SITTING HERE WITH US AT THE NEXT AWARDS CEREMONY.
WE WILL BE PRESENTING EACH OF YOU PERSONALIZED AWARD
CERTIFICATE TO RECOGNIZE YOUR HARD WORK AND
CONTRIBUTIONS TO HHS AND TO OUR NATION.
OUR NEXT ROUND OF HHS COMPETITION WILL START ON
NOVEMBER 14th, SO WE NEVER SLEEP.
WE KEEP THIS GOING. I ENCOURAGE ALL MEMBERS OF
THE HHS COMMUNITY TO SUBMIT INNOVATIONS AND I ALSO
ENCOURAGE THOSE OF YOU WHO PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED
INNOVATIONS BUT DID NOT JOIN US HERE TODAY TO TRY
REVISING YOUR APPLICATIONS, LETTING US KNOW ABOUT ANY
NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT YOU HAVE MADE, WITH YOUR
INNOVATIONS. TALK TO SOME OF THE OTHERS
WHO ARE HERE TODAY AND LEARN FROM THEM AND HOPEFULLY
WE'LL BE GETTING YOUR SUBMISSION AGAIN IN THE NEXT
ROUND. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING
US HERE TODAY. I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER
NOW TO TODD PARK, THE MOTOR IN ALL OF THIS.
OF COURSE IS OUR CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER.
I HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH TODD DAY IN AND
DAY OUT AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT HE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE
OF THE VALUE OF BRINGING PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE OF
GOVERNMENT INTO GOVERNMENT TO SHARE WITH US.
ONE OF THE THINGS TODD HAS TAUGHT ME IS THAT WE HAVE
EVERY BIT AS MUCH BRINS AND INSIGHT AND EVERY BIT AS
MUCH DEDICATION IN THE GOVERNMENT AS THERE IS
OUTSIDE THE GOVERNMENT. AND THE SHARE BETWEEN THE
PRIVATE SECTOR AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR IS SO
IMPORTANT FOR US TO DO. THEY HAVE MUCH TO LEARN FROM
US AND WE HAVE MUCH WE CAN LEARN FROM THEM.
AND TODD, YOU'VE BROUGHT GREAT NEW ENERGY AND GREAT
NEW INSIGHT AND IDEAS TO US AND SO IT IS WITH GREAT
PLEASURE THAT I TURN IT OVER TO THE FINAL WORDS TO TODD
PARK, OUR CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER.
[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, BILL.
THIS IS A PHENOMENAL DAY. WE'RE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF
ALL OUR WINNERS. A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE
AGAIN TO ALL OF YOU. WOULD HOO.
MANY CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN ON ALL YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN FOR UNLEASHING YOUR MOJOS ON
BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND HELPING HHS DO
THE BEST JOB WE CAN TO SERVE THE PUBLIC.
YOU'RE A DEEP INSPIRATION TO ALL OF US.
AND ONE THING JUST TO REINFORCE SOMETHING THAT
BILL SAID. I HOPE YOU WILL TELL YOUR
STORY TO YOUR PEERS, YOUR FRIENDS AND INSPIRE THEM AND
TEACH THEM HOW TO BE THE WINNERS NEXT TIME.
WE WANT THIS TO SPREAD AND CATCH FIRE AND YOU WILL FIND
THAT'S ACTUALLY NOT THAT HARD BECAUSE WE'VE FOUND
THAT INNOVATION ISN'T SOMETHING THAT WE'RE HAVING
TO TEACHHHS TO DO. WE'RE JUST HELPING TO UNLOCK
THE MOJO THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THRIVING AND NOW MAKING
IT A TRUE PHENOMENON. THIS PROGRAM IS GETTING
NOTORIETY NOW IN A GOOD WAY. MANY OF YOU PROBABLY SAW TOM
FOX'S ARTICLE IN THE "WASHINGTON POST" RECENTLY
THAT CELEBRATED AN EXAMPLE OF HOW GOVERNMENT SHOULD
WORK TO UNLOCK THE POWER OF THE EMPLOYEES TO HELP THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE. WE'RE PROUD OF THIS BEING A
MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE PRESIDENT'S NATIONAL AGENDA.
THIS IS A HIGH PRIORITY FOR ALL OF US HERE AND THE
SECRETARY AND WE'RE SO EXCITED AS TO WHAT YOU ARE
DOING. IN LOOKING BACK OVER THE
PAST THREE ROUNDS I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THERE HASN'T
BEEN ONE TYPE OF INNOVATION THAT'S ACTUALLY PERVADED THE
WINNER'S CIRCLE. THERE HAVE BEEN ALL KINDS OF
IN VATION AND MEDIA COMMUNICATION, GREEN
SUSTAINABILITY AND MUCH MORE. AND THE TYPES OF
COLLABORATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN FORMED ACROSS AGENCIES,
BETWEEN DIFFERENT AGENCIES AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
HAVE BEEN REALLY QUITE REMARKABLE.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHECK OUT THE INNOVATIONS GALLERY
WHERE A BUNCH OF YOU WILL BE MATERIALIZING SHORTLY AND
USE THAT AS A VEHICLE TO HELP SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT
THE POWER AND DIVERSITY AND THE BRILLIANCE AND INGENUITY
OF THE INNOVATIONS THAT OUR PEERS ARE EXECUTING ACROSS
THE DEPARTMENT. AND I'D LIKE TO SAY SPECIAL
THANKS TO OUR HHS INNOVATION COUNCIL AND SUBCOMMITTEE
CO-CHAIRS WHO ACTUALLY PUT ALL THIS TOGETHER, THIS
ROUND. ANDREW WILSON AND JOHN SHANG
FOR INCREDIBLE HELP PRESENTING THE INNOVATIONS
VIA THE WEB, AND FINALLY LAST BUT DEFINITELY NOT
LEAST WILLIAMS, WHO HAVE ORGANIZED ALL THIS AND LED
THIS AND ENABLED IT TO HAPPEN AS SMOOTHLY AS IT HAS.
KUDOS TO YOU ALL. AND TO THE SECRETARY, TO THE
DEPUTY SECRETARY, TO NED, TO JOHN BERRY, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN PROMOTING INNOVATION.
ONE OF THE POINTS THE "WASHINGTON POST" MADE WAS
THE CULTURE OF INNOVATION IS A GRASSROOTS PHENOMENON BUT
IT CANNOT PERVADE AND SWEEP AN AGENCY OF THE GOVERNMENT
WITHOUT LEADERSHIP FROM THE TOP.
AND BY THE TIME, LOVE AND PASSION THAT YOU HAVE SPENT,
THAT HAS BEEN A HUGE CATALYST FOR THE
ADVANTAGEOUS ADVANCEMENT AND INNOVATION.
KEEP DOING IT. WE LOVE YOU FOR DOING IT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING IT.
IT'S MAKING A BIG, BIG DIFFERENCE AND I HOPE YOU
CAN SEE. SO AS BILL NOTED EARLIER,
THIS IS AN ONGOING THING AND IT'S GOING TO KEEP ROLLING.
SO THE NEXT ROUND IS STARTING NOVEMBER 14th.
WORK ON IMPROVING YOUR STORY AND COME BACK TO ANOTHER
COMPETITION. IF YOU HAVE NOT SUBMITTED TO
IT BEFORE, COME RIGHT ON IN. THE WATER IS FUN AND IT'S
WARM AND DOING A BETTER AND BETTER JOB HELPING US SERVE
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. SO PLEASE COME IN AND JOIN
THE FUN. IT'S A FANTASTIC TIME.
THIS CONCLUDES OUR CEREMONY. I WILL SEE YOU NEXT SPRING
FOR THE NEXT CELEBRATION PALOOZA OF HHS INNOVATION.
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND GOD BLESS INNOVATION AND MAY THE
FORCES BE WITH YOU AND GOD BLESS AMERICA.
[APPLAUSE]