[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 28, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E853]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2014

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. HENRY A. WAXMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 21, 2014

  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my opposition to 
H.R. 4031, the Department of Veterans Affairs Management Accountability 
Act of 2014.
  I represent the VA West Los Angeles Medical Center, which is the 
largest VA medical facility in the Nation. I am outraged by the recent 
allegations of serious misconduct and mismanagement at VA hospitals. I 
understand the urgency my colleagues feel to act, but this legislation 
will not solve the problems plaguing the Department of Veterans Affairs 
because it doesn't address the systemic deficiencies that are 
preventing our veterans from getting the care they so deserve.
  H.R. 4031 has been brought to the floor without a committee hearing 
or markup. It gives the Secretary of the VA the authority to fire 
Senior Executive Service (SES) employees at will. The Secretary already 
has the authority to fire SES employees for cause. The legislation is 
not only unnecessary; it is harmful because it would allow political 
appointees to fire nonpolitical senior federal executives for any 
reason. It would set a bad precedent and jeopardize the Department's 
ability to recruit the most talented individuals to the VA.
  I want to work with my colleagues to draft sensible legislation that 
will actually solve the problems at the VA with a new metric for 
accountability and executive performance.

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