[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4682]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 22, 2017

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, had I voted, I would have voted ``no'' 
on passage of H.R. 1259, the VA Accountability First Act of 2017 (Roll 
Call No. 168). This bill contains provisions that infringe on the 
collective bargaining and due process rights of Veterans Affairs' 
employees. Should this legislation become public law, it would have a 
damaging effect on patient care and VA recruitment, limiting the 
agency's efficiency.

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