"Political appointees serve at the pleasure of a President, but they are subject to the same accountability, transparency, and performance laws that apply to everyone else."
"I do think that the CHCOs should be career employees and, if not the CHCOs, then at least the Deputy CHCOs."
"If the CHCO Act was amended to provide more autonomy and provide CHCOs a larger voice in the development of regulations, would that alone be enough to reverse this backwards slide?"
"I do think that it would be extremely helpful if the CHCO Council was actually chaired by CHCOs."
"Over the years, Congress has heard from CHCOs about challenges communicating with OPM."
"I think your Chance to Compete Act that Chairwoman Sinema has put in place, or is working to get passed, is actually something that would be beneficial to us."
"As Congress is currently reviewing several different proposed bills, including one from Senator Carper called the Tim Hart Act, it appears much can be resolved within existing laws."
"We cannot lose sight again of those merit principles I keep talking about."
"Yes."
"Go ahead."
"Thank you. With that, we have reached the end of today's hearing. I appreciate all of our witnesses for your time and testimony and thank our colleagues for their participation."
"The threat of a biological event in the United States must be taken seriously, and we need to work together deliberately and in a bipartisan manner to ensure the safety of our communities."