The citys literary life. All this week were marking the tenth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with special programming. Tonight scenes from new orleans one year after the storm hit. We tour hurricane damage and speak with those on the ground. Thats followed by a 2005 house hearing, featuring testimony from new orleans residents who left the city or who were trapped by floodwaters. Heres some of tonights program. Why were we held hostage . I didnt go anywhere. Why were we held hostage and not allowed to rescue our people . We have proof of it. Why was that the case . You know what, baby, im from the 60s. Call the police. Im going to stop talking when i finish with my messages from my community. Thats the only reason im here. I didnt come to represent me. I didnt come representing diane french cole. I came representing the people who are sitting on dirt streets right now around a brickmade fireplace because thats the only heat we have in december. The hurricane happened in august somebo
An investigation when it comes to holding a retaliater against a whistleblower accountable. Because guess what the numbers support what im saying. You can give whatever explanation you want. But im telling you right now, the level of disrespect that you are showing to the veterans who by the way if and we know allegations are true in terms of treatment, mistreatment of patients, the lists, the laundry lists of stuff that is going on. Everyone knows that its there. Youre telling me youre spending all this time to try to hold someone accountable. Forget about whats happening about actually fixing the problem where veterans are not getting the services that they need. That is another disturbing thing to me. Thats almost an afterthought to you. So i cant hear an explanation that includes some kind of, with el, and believe me im a lawyer so i get the whole theres an Ongoing Investigation so i cant answer. Its a very convenient way of getting out of answering a question that you dont want to
What were they doing in. They were investigating me. You know i thought i told them, i clearly thought it was a sham. And i expressed that to them on multiple occasions during the investigation. I mean one of the most interesting questions the question they wanted asked or answered the most dealt with the fact i identified a vehicle driving a government vehicle driving at friday night at 8 30 in the evening after i left the office at 8 30 didnt have any taillights on it at all. I stopped that vehicle and notified the driver there werent any taillights on before the driver got on a darkened highway. And then the next monday i inquired about what the vehicle was doing out at 8 30, because you know we had had vehicles destroyed by staff and we had had vehicles used to take staff to crack houses and i had a concern about why that vehicle was out. The oar aib investigation was more concerned excuse me was more concerned why i stopped the vehicle and when i expressed that, you know i was bor
Come to the conclusion that whistleblowers have made allegations that were not based on fact, and you can do that pretty expeditiously, it seems to me. And you cant do as expeditious an investigation when it comes to holding a retaliator against a whistleblower accountable. Because guess what, the numbers support what im saying. You can give whatever explanation you want. But im telling you right now, the level of disrespect that you are showing to the veterans, who by the way, if and we know allegations are true in terms of treatment, mistreatment of patients, the lists, the laundry lists of stuff that is going on. Everyone knows that its there. Youre telling me youre spending all this time to try to hold someone accountable. Forget about whats happening about actually fixing the problem where veterans are not getting the services that they need. That is another disturbing thing to me. Thats almost an afterthought to you. So i cant hear an explanation that includes some kind of, with
Screeria nigeria. Eric can for and health and human secretary kathleen sebelius. Whistle blowers from the Veterans Department spoke about retaliation used against them for reporting wrongdoing. Employees told members of the House Veterans Affairs subcommittee that they faced demotions and public embarrassment for their actions. U. S. Special counsel carolyn learner was also a witness and spoke about the number of whistleblower protection claims. This hearing is two hours. Good afternoon. I would like to ask unanimous consent that the admiral seeing no objection additionally i would like to ask unanimous consent that three statements be entered into the hearing record two from whistleblowers. Hearing no objection, so order. The hearing will focus on the department of defense im sorry. Within the department of Veterans Affairs particularly, the types and levels of retaliation that they experienced when reporting problems. It will serve as a follow up to the hearing conducted by the commi