Jasper Packard: “There has been some concern, particularly by the Secretary of Veterans' Affairs, that our bill would change the…”

“There has been some concern, particularly by the Secretary of Veterans' Affairs, that our bill would change the reduction in force of GAO as it affects, as it might affect, veterans' preference. We have discussed this with Mr. Buyer, chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs subcommittee. I have a letter from the GAO, and I would submit it for the Record. It is to Mr. Detweiler, the National Commander of the American Legion, who has posed the problem in a letter of August 22, 1995. The Comptroller General's, Mr. Charles Bowsher letter assures the veterans that there is no intention of undermining veterans' preference, and certainly I think this issue is cleared up as far as my understanding of the bill is concerned. There apparently has been a misunderstanding of section 212 of the conference report. Mr. Bowsher's letter clears that up. And both Mr. Buyer and I wanted to make sure this is clarified.”