Particularly on the Government Affairs portion. We have a Mission Statement that we developed last congress with my former Ranking Member senator carper and then my new Ranking Member had a very good addition to it. The original one was to enhance the economic and National Security of america and the senator suggested we add for efficient and effective Accountable Government and thats what the gao and Inspector Generals do. We certainly appreciate your work. I dont know how many times ive said it, youre our favorite folks in government. You give us the information that really can make government more efficient and effective and accountable. Todays hearing is really on the gaos high risk series. Their list. This is something thats been prepared by gao since the early 90s. The facts speak for themselves. Just the last ten years, a gao report that 240 million over a tenyear period by enacting their recommendations to make government more efficient and effective. Thats 24 billion per year.
And abuse. The hearing is about two hours. This hearing will come to order. Good afternoon. I want to welcome our witnesses. I appreciate your thoughtful testimony and your willingness to spend some time with us here today. I ask consent for my written Opening Statement be entered in the record. This hearing really is what this committees all about, particularly on the Governmental Affairs portion, but we have a Mission Statement that we developed last congress with my former Ranking Member and then my new ranking had a very good addition to it. The original one was to enhance the economic and National Security of america and the senator suggested we add and promote efficient, more efficient, effective and Accountable Government and thats what the gao does and Inspector Generals do. We appreciate your work. I dont know how many times ive said and others have said youre our favorite folks in government. You give us the information that really can make government more efficient and effec
As the phoenix va employee i have suffered retalation for speaking and out section four and five outlies the specific things the va uses to realitate against whistle blowing. The va has routinely intimidated any employee that brings forth information that is contrary to what they would like to submit to the public. Ten days after the national va received my report i was placed on administrative leave for a month and investigating for misconduct because i provided limited amounts of patients information in order to support my allegations of the suicide trend and the facilities inappropriate response. I would receive a written counseling stating i have violated a policy but do this day they will not tell me what i violated. This is minor realitation given the last three years. During that time we were understaffed and there wasnt staff to wash beds, answer telephones, deliver patients and transport labs. Doctors and nurses were pulled away from direct patient care to perform these duties
Immediately notified of the senates action and the senate resume legislative session. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Donnelly i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak for up to ten minutes each. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Donnelly madam president , i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar number 440, s. Res. 447. The presiding officer the clerk will report. The clerk calendar number 440, Senate Resolution 447 recognizing freedoms of the press and so forth. The presiding officer is there objection to proceeding to the measure . Without objection. Mr. Donnelly i further ask the committee reported substitute to the amendment be agreed to, the resolution as amend be agreed to, the committee reported amendment to the preamble be agreed to, the preamble as amended be agreed to and the motions to reconsider to reconsider be considered made and laid on
Blowers complaints seriously. Within vha, the problem of intimidation, retaliation may be magnified by what some consider a protective culture of the medical profession. It is often thought to be against the code to point out colleagues mistakes or where a nurse or a tendant is told it is appropriate to question a physician or surgeon. The natural tendency is to close ranks, to not die that problems exist or mirs stestakes were ma. So after we listen to the testimony before us this evening from the whistle blowers, the office of special counsel and the va will anything change after we hear what the whistle blowers have to say and how do we fix this culture and encourage all va employees to step forward to identify problems and work to address the problems. Changing a culture is not easy. It cannot be done legislatively or 33inthrowing additional resos at it. Talk is cheap. Real solutions are hard to find. It is clear to me that the va as it is structured today is fundamentally incapabl