Jason Chaffetz: “I want to thank, certainly, Dr. Wenstrup, for bringing forward this bill, and also the ranking member here for good…”

“I want to thank, certainly, Dr. Wenstrup, for bringing forward this bill, and also the ranking member here for good bipartisan work. 1978 was a good year. I was playing soccer at the AYSO as a young, 11-year-old kid. It was also a good year because that was the last time the civil service had a total revamp of its system. It has been that long since civil service has had this type of reform, and we are looking, on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, to take what is being done here in a good, bipartisan way, and try to institute some of these good best practices into the broader Federal Government. The current hiring process is far too long and far too complex. We want to ensure the Federal Government remains a competitive employment option. We also want to make sure, particularly at the VA, that the department has the necessary data to make smart hiring decisions and ensure important positions are filled. This bill will allow technical experts to earn promotions without having to necessarily go into the management track, which is very important. For some of the skill sets, you don't have to be in management if you are providing a skill that is so imperative to making sure we take care of our veterans. The bill also allows for a fast-tracked reemployment of former VA employees who have a proven record of success at the agency.…”