Henry Waxman: “Mr. Chairman, let me tell my colleagues what this does not do. The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman) tried to make us…”

“Mr. Chairman, let me tell my colleagues what this does not do. The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman) tried to make us think that civil servants were going to be protected. Well, if an annual cost-of-living is going to other employees, there is no guarantee that employees working in this Department will get it. Nor would they be guaranteed the locality pay increases to offset the higher cost of living. The employee is also not protected against the Department if it engaged in unfair labor practices, such as coercing employees or discriminating against employees who assert their collective bargaining right. Rights are not restored. They are not protected anymore. The employees are at the mercy of the Department, and, in fact, if an agency wanted to take an adverse action against an employee, it does not even have to give them, as existing law, 30 days notice and 7 days to respond, and then if there is an adverse action taken against the employees, there is no provision to give them the right to appeal. These are current rights that are being taken away, and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman) does not restore those rights.”