Mark Takano: “I think it is important that we consider the impact our actions will have on the hardworking frontline VA employees…”

“I think it is important that we consider the impact our actions will have on the hardworking frontline VA employees, many of whom are veterans themselves and even whom my friend from Florida, Chairman Miller, says the vast majority of whom are very good employees. I include in the Record a letter from the American Federation of Government Employees. American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, Washington, DC, September 9, 2016. Re AFGE Opposition to H.R. 5620. Dear Representative: I am writing on behalf of nearly 700,000 federal employees represented by the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO (AFGE), including 230,000 employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to urge you to oppose H.R. 5620, a bill introduced by Representative Jeff Miller (R-FL) to provide for removal or demotion of VA employees, and for other purposes. The drastic reductions in due process rights for every frontline VA employee proposed by this bill represents another familiar attempt to weaken the VA by weakening its dedicated workforce. Changes proposed by H.R.…”