[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 135 (Friday, September 19, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1452-E1453]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS RESOLUTION, 2015

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday. September 16, 2014

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I support the inclusion of 
additional funding for the United States Office of Special Counsel, 
``OSC'' in section 124 of H.J. Res. 124. There is a critical need for 
ongoing oversight of the Department of Veterans Affairs, ``VA.'' This 
section of the Continuing Resolution recognizes that need by providing 
an increase in funding for the OSC.
  OSC protects whistleblowers government-wide who expose waste, fraud, 
abuse, and mismanagement. Since the House Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs discovered the use of unofficial, unlawful scheduling lists at 
the Phoenix VA Health Care System, VA employees across the country have 
stepped forward to report allegations of further misconduct and threats 
to Veterans' health care. Whistleblowers have been at the heart of 
exposing misconduct and promoting accountability at the VA. Many of 
them have faced retaliation and threats from VA management. This has a 
chilling and crippling effect on our efforts to restore confidence in 
the VA.
  OSC has been inundated with claims of retaliation and disclosures 
from VA employees. OSC's numbers are at record-setting levels. In the 
aftermath of the initial exposure of the VA scandal, cases from VA 
employees comprise over 29 percent of all OSC's cases, which covers the 
entire Federal government. This year, OSC will receive over 300 more 
cases from VA whistleblowers than in the previous year. This is a 
massive increase for a tiny Federal agency like OSC. In testimony 
before the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Special Counsel 
Carolyn Lerner told us that OSC had to establish a new priority intake 
system for VA cases. OSC also reallocated much of its small staff to 
deal with the VA increase.
  Despite its small size, OSC's efforts are making a tremendous 
difference. Its work has already resulted in relief for courageous VA 
employees who were retaliated against for speaking out about wait lists 
and improper care. OSC's review of the VA Office of Medical Inspector 
led to an overhaul of the internal oversight structure at the VA.

[[Page E1453]]

  However, OSC cannot keep up with the influx of claims and respond to 
them in a timely and responsible manner. The funding increase will 
provide the additional staff and related expenses necessary to support 
ongoing investigations of misconduct and whistleblower reprisal. It 
will promote accountability and better administration of the VA.
  I thank Chairman Rogers for his work to help cleanup the problems at 
the VA through increased funding of the OSC in section 124 of H.J. Res. 
124.

                          ____________________