Chris Van Hollen: “I want to thank my colleague from Virginia Senator Warner, who just addressed this very important issue, and my friend…”

“I want to thank my colleague from Virginia Senator Warner, who just addressed this very important issue, and my friend and colleague, the other Virginia Senator, Senator Kaine, who is making the motion today that we pass his Saving the Civil Service Act. This is a critical piece of legislation to protect one of America's best innovations, which is the idea of a nonpartisan, merit-based Federal workforce--one that serves all Americans, regardless of political affiliation; one where you don't take a political test to decide whether you have the credentials for the job; you take a skills- based, knowledge-based test to decide if you are best for the job. Our Federal workers are the air traffic controllers who ensure safe passage when Americans fly; they are the inspectors who protect our food supply; they are the folks who determine whether or not medicines put on the market are going to be both safe and do what they say they are going to do; they are the folks at the Social Security Administration in Baltimore City who make sure that people get their Social Security checks on time; they are the nurses and doctors at veterans hospitals who help our veterans; and many, many other essential functions. Today, the only criteria for their employment is performance. It is what they know, not who they know. They are qualified to serve based on those credentials, and they do a good job protecting the American public.…”