Jon Tester

I appreciate that, and that might, Mr. Chairman, bring us around to another discussion about how we can work with the Department--and, by the way, this could apply to all agencies in government--to reduce the red tape for hiring, because…

I am encouraged that folks in Washington are suddenly interested in access to health care for veterans.

The most meaningful and most difficult decision I confront is the question of sending men and women into harm's way.

The Committee is holding an oversight hearing on Wildfires and Forest Management, with a particular focus on the relationship between Federal and tribal forest management.

We must work together to ensure our forests are resilient.

Now I want to talk about the inability of the DOD and the VA to coordinate development and deployment of electronic medical records.

A full audit of the Pentagon's books is critical for moving forward.

If it happens with VA and DOD, the question becomes-when it comes to major acquisitions that the military is going to make, to what extent does your office engage with other agencies, for instance, DHS?

There is no reason the DOD cannot have an audit.

I think Congressional intent is very important, and I will tell you that it was more than just a little bit disconcerting when we had the conversation with the ICBM caucus Senators, and basically one of the people in that meeting basically…

I do not know how we got to this point, but maybe the DOD has gotten too big to audit.

The DOD's failure to meet audit readiness is frustrating.

I want to dovetail onto what Senator Portman was talking about, about the number of folks that are going to be retiring from the workforce, I think potentially a third of them by 2017.

Every day, something is touched--our lives are touched by a Federal employee. And if that Federal employee feels valued, I can tell you, just as in my job, if I feel valued, you are going to do a much better job.

I think it is an issue that we need to address as a Congress, quite frankly, because, from my perspective, I think they may be doing a great job in many cases, but the whole thing with uses and the lack of accountability, if that did not…

I think my perspective is there is a place for it, but I think at this point in time, it is being overused.

I think it is one of those--not little, if you are impacted--big things that sends just the wrong message to the folks about their worth.

If we seek an effective and efficient government, we need to ensure that Federal workers are able to make a living at their jobs and we need to ensure they have the opportunity to grow and feel valued.

This is not make believe. This is true and we see it every day.

I think if agencies are hiring within a 45-to 90-day timeframe, that would be a huge improvement over the past.

I think speeding up the hiring process is always in everyone's interest.

Sequestration, it does need to end. It is a hammer being held over our heads.

I am very hesitant, Senators, and I am sure you are, to ask employees to do more with less.

A lot of folks in Washington like to demand an efficient and effective Federal Government, but you would never know it judging by the way they often treat the Federal workers.

Now, I can tell you, there are problems recruiting engineers onto the Air Force Base.