Whereas thousands of civilian Federal employees have given their lives in the line of duty for their country, and their families now receive United States flags in their honor pursuant to bipartisan legislation; Whereas Federal employees have supported, defended, and been indispensable to the progress the United States has achieved through times of war and peace, recession and prosperity, and global instability and uncertainty; Whereas Federal employees have demonstrated outstanding productivity as indicated by the decline in the Federal workforce relative to the Nation’s population, with 92 residents for every Federal worker in the 1950s and 1960s to 145 residents for every Federal worker in 2011; Whereas approximately 80 percent of Federal workers have attended college, compared with approximately 60 percent of private-sector workers; Whereas approximately 21 percent of Federal workers hold masters, professional, or doctorate degrees, compared with approximately 9 percent of private-sector workers; Whereas Federal employees undertake medical research that has resulted in vital discoveries and improved health due to improved vaccines, diagnoses, and cures, saving lives and enabling people in the United States to live longer and healthier; Whereas Federal employees have achieved significant new scientific advances, from space exploration on Mars to biological discoveries in oceanic waters; Whereas Federal employees provide homeland security and protection for more than 8,000 miles of United States international land and water borders, while detecting and preventing illegal activities and contraband at the borders; Whereas Federal employees prevent the entry of terrorists and terrorist weapons into the United States and conduct investigations to prevent national security breaches and cyber crimes; Whereas Federal employees engage in research, development, and deployment of high-level technology and other resources to protect the United States