[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 83 (Friday, May 30, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E879]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               H.R. 4031

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                          HON. XAVIER BECERRA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 30, 2014

  Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, I voted against H.R. 4031, a bill named the 
``Department of Veterans Affairs Management Accountability Act of 
2014'', because I don't throw babies out with the bathwater.
   Let me explain. When our fellow Americans put on our country's 
uniform in service to our nation, we owe it to them to repay that 
service. When these Americans retire the uniform, as veterans they 
deserve everything a grateful nation can offer--our love, respect, 
gratitude and, just as importantly, the care and attention they may now 
need upon coming home.
   Reports that the Department of Veterans Affairs failed to provide 
many of our veterans the care and service they have earned are more 
than disturbing, and if true, warrant decisive action. With facts in 
hand, our government must be prepared to move swiftly to right the 
wrong and hold people accountable.
   H.R. 4031 is a bill which is being portrayed as a fix to the 
troubling reports of mismanagement and mistreatment at VA facilities. 
It is hardly that. H.R. 4031 would go well beyond giving the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs the authority to fire personnel in this particular 
case of potential mismanagement. This bill makes permanent and 
reactionary changes to longstanding rules governing the hiring and 
firing of people holding positions of public responsibility. It would 
paint responsible, hard-working public servants with the same brush as 
those who may have recklessly mismanaged VA services.
   If H.R. 4031 became law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs could 
hire or fire someone based on a whim. It would forever and irreparably 
damage our ability to hire and retain the best and brightest based on 
merit and experience. This bill would bring back the dark days when 
hiring and firing decisions within our federal workforce were driven by 
political influence and patronage.
   The vast majority of veterans will tell you that they have received 
the quality of care that they have earned and deserve at VA health 
centers. But anything less than 100 percent satisfaction for our 
veterans is not good enough. That's why we must swiftly and decisively 
investigate these alarming reports of mismanagement at the Department 
of Veterans Affairs. I will do anything and everything I can to live up 
to that standard. But I will not lump truly dedicated, hard-working 
public servants together with those who have failed in their 
fundamental obligation to serve and care for our veterans. I will not 
throw the baby out with the bathwater--and I do not believe America's 
veterans want us to do that either.

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