Christopher Shays: “Mr. Chairman, I would say my opposition is mild. I am using this opportunity to point out what we believe is a fact, and…”

“Mr. Chairman, I would say my opposition is mild. I am using this opportunity to point out what we believe is a fact, and I would say that the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman) particularly wanted this to be pointed out. We would note that the Select Committee bill provides on page 185, section 761, that any human resources management system established under the committee bill must not waive, modify or otherwise affect among the public employment principles of merit and fitness, including protection of employees against reprisal for whistleblowing, that is line 15, and any provisions of law provided for equal employment opportunity through affirmative action, and that is line 23. Our opposition is just merely to point out that we think it is covered. We think it is there already. But we certainly know the intent of the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings).”