On the recordJuly 29, 2015
I wish to address this issue of the appeals process that takes place post facto. The Supreme Court decisions and case law make very clear that Federal employees are entitled to due process on the front end and that this bill clearly does not meet that upfront, front-loaded due process moment. Clearly, 45 days, the Board that makes these decisions, if they don't make a decision, the decision for the firing stands, so they do not have to make a firm decision, and there is no appeal. There is no appeal. That decision is final. I want to remind my colleagues that the Secretary of the VA hopefully is always appointed by the President with a sense of merit, but I remind you that these are political appointees confirmed by the Senate, as are the top appointees in any Federal department. You do away with due process rights, you do away with the very cornerstone of a merit-based civil service system. You subject it long term to becoming a spoils system to be dismissed, rehired at the whim of any incoming administration. I reserve the balance of my time.
