Jeff Miller

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. This language is the same language that was in there. It does not take away the rights that you say are being taken away. You voted for the same thing last year.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Did you vote for the Veterans Access Choice and Accountability Act last year?

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have no speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Benishek), chairman of the Health Subcommittee.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Dent), the chairman of the subcommittee that has jurisdiction over the VA budget.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time. In closing, there has been a lot said today about a lack of due process. I do want to remind my colleagues that, in the Cleveland Board of Education v. Loudermill of 1985, it basically states that, if post- deprivation due process includes a full hearing, on appeal, the Supreme Court has long held that pre-deprivation due process need only be minimal, to only include notice of charges, an explanation of the evidence, and an opportunity to present their side of the story. In fact, in the Merit Systems Protection Board ruling, the administrative law judge in the Hellman case basically said he did not find the response period was so short--it was 5 days--as to constitute on its face a due process violation, i.e., lack of meaningful opportunity to respond to the charges. There has been a lot said so far, and I am sure there will be more that will be said on the floor as amendments are brought; but I encourage all of my colleagues to support H.R. 1994, as amended. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Rothfus).

Mr. MILLER of Florida. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Costello), from the Sixth District.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. May I inquire how much time is remaining on my side?

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Chairman, what this amendment does is basically gut H.R. 1994, which is an accountability bill that provides the Secretary with a desperately needed tool in order to hold people accountable within the Department. I would like to read for the Record the 11 veterans service organizations that support the removal authority: American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Vietnam Veterans of America, Student Veterans of America, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Military Officers Association of America, Reserve Officers Association, Concerned Veterans for America, and AMVETS. I remind Members that VA has only successfully removed three VA employees for reasons related to the wait time manipulation in the VA scandal that was brought to everybody's attention back in April. Here are those that oppose the accountability bill: the American Federation of Government Employees and the National Treasury Employees Union. So, again, on opposition are the unions; on support are the veterans service organizations. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. That is correct.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I would also say that H.R. 4031 last year was a stand-alone bill that dealt specifically with firing senior executive-level individuals, the same language that is in here now for the rest of the VA. The Democrats unanimously supported that language in the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act. I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from the State of Indiana (Mrs. Walorski).

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask how much time is remaining.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would say that the statutory definition in chapter 5 of a whistleblower ``means a complaint by an employee of the Department disclosing, or assisting another employee to disclose, a potential violation of any law, rule, or regulation, or gross mismanagement, gross waste of funds, abuse of authority, or substantial and specific danger to public health and safety.'' I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana, Dr. Abraham, an able-bodied member of our committee.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from the First District of Kansas (Mr. Huelskamp).

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. My bill provides all employees an appeal to the MSPB. Post- depravation is not an issue; and regarding pre-depravation due process, my bill provides the same protections as the Choice Act, which the MSPB has held does not, on its face, violate the due process clause. I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from American Samoa (Mrs. Radewagen), a new member of our committee.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. I would say to the gentlewoman from Florida that, if she would ask a question, I will be more than happy to answer her question.

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I would remind the gentlewoman that she voted at the last minute before the August work recess for the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act. The same language is in there now. The only difference is it did not cover union employees. This one does. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from the Sixth District of Colorado (Mr. Coffman).

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Northwest Florida State College Raiders' baseball team on their victory in the 2015 JUCO World Series, bringing home the school's first NJCAA Baseball National Championship. This hard-earned title is a testament to their dedication to excellence, commitment to teamwork, and unwavering work ethic, and all of Northwest Florida celebrates their tremendous success. While the Raiders capped their season with a dominant 15-1 victory over McLennan Community College in the championship game, the Raiders' players, coaches, and staff proved throughout the season that they had the mettle of true champions as they persevered through difficult stretches early in the season. Despite tough early season losses that saw the team drop to 4-5 in conference play, Raiders' Head Coach Doug Martin and his players were undeterred, and they continued to work hard each day in pursuit of a championship. Even after an impressive late season run--which saw the Raiders win 14 of their last 16 games, including a seven-game winning streak that included a sweep of the Gulf District/FCSAA State Tournament that qualified them for the World Series--the Raiders came into the JUCO World Series ranked 14th in the Nation. But, despite being an underdog, the Raiders pulled off impressive victories--defeating three top ten teams, including the number one ranked team in the country by a margin of 10-0--en route to a rematch in the National Championship game with the only team that defeated them during the World Series: McLennan Community College. In the rematch, the Raiders put in a true team performance and in the end they earned a well-deserved 15-1 victory to bring the national title back to Northwest Florida. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged to recognize the Raiders players--Aaron Palmer, Onix Martinez, Danny Blanco, Corderias Dorsey, Tra'Mayne Holmes, Will Luft, Mack Hathcock, Hunter Beard, Avery Geyer, Evan Hebert, Ryan Leone, Dakota Dean, Andrew Deramo, James Granat, Tanner Halstead, Ross Goforth, Shawn Feltner, Rex Rutledge, Carlos Alayon, Brian Browning, Lukas Holub, Trey Lang, Jarren Pinkney, and Hunter Bening--Head Coach Doug Martin, Assistant Coaches Andrew Franco and Brett Stewart, Athletic Director Ramsey Ross, and the entire Raiders staff and fans on their national championship. My wife Vicki and I congratulate the entire Raiders baseball program and wish them all the best for continued success in the future.

Mr. MILLER of Florida

Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Centennial Anniversary of the Okaloosa County, Florida Sheriff's Department. As a former Deputy Sheriff, I understand the important and sometimes underappreciated role that law enforcement officers play in local communities across the Nation. In Northwest Florida, we are fortunate to have many world-class Sheriff's Departments and Police Departments that are working each and every day to protect their neighbors and community. For the last 100 years, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Department has served a thriving community that has grown from a population of less than 10,000 when the department was created to a home for nearly 200,000 people today. Yet, while the population has increased nearly twentyfold over the past century, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Department has always upheld their mission to ``ensure fair and equal administration of the law, safeguarding civil liberties and preserving public safety and doing so with professionalism and unity of purpose, while being good stewards of the public's trust.'' From the first Okaloosa County Sheriff, Benjamin Haywood Sutton, who initially funded the department with his own money, through to the current Sheriff, Larry Ashley, 15 different men have served as Sheriff, while countless have joined the force as deputies. Each and every one of those selfless men and women chose to stand up and serve their communities as officers of the law, and while they do not ask for any recognition in return, they certainly deserve our gratitude and thanks. There is no greater honor than to swear an oath to our Constitution to serve and protect the lives of your fellow man at the risk of your own either at home or abroad, and the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Department has shown over its 100 year history that it is dedicated to serving the people of Okaloosa County. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am proud to recognize the accomplishments and the service the Okaloosa County Florida Sheriff's Department has provided to the community over the last 100 years.