Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20015
Dear Representative:
On behalf of the National Education Association’s 3 million members, dedicated educators who teach and support 50 million students across the nation and in the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools stateside and overseas, we submit these comments for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform’s March 25 markup. We urge the committee to OPPOSE H.R. 1210, H.R. 2249, H.R. 2174, and H.R. 1295. We urge the committee to SUPPORT H.Res. 187.
We oppose H.R. 1210 because:
- This bill would unfairly charge federal employee labor unions for the use of “official time,” in conflict with the Civil Service Reform Act, which grants union representatives the right to use such time for representational duties. The use of official time is crucial to enabling union representatives and management to work together on solutions, which improves workplace communication and addresses problems before they escalate into more time-consuming issues.
We oppose H.R. 2249 because:
- Allowing presidents to unilaterally cancel Collective Bargaining Agreements agreed to by management and the unions representing members of a bargaining unit would overrule negotiations and prevent employees from having a voice in the workplace. These agreements provide stability that protects the missions of federal agencies, allows for planning, and enhances collaboration.
We oppose H.R. 2174 because:
- Automatic payroll deductions are chosen by individual federal employees voluntarily. H.R. 2174 would eliminate this as an option for them. Federal employees can authorize automatic payments for various benefits; authorizing deductions for dues should be treated the same way.
We oppose H.R. 1295 because:
- Over the past three months, many haphazard and ill-considered steps have been taken to shutter federal agencies and up-end the work their employees perform. Many of these measures, which have instilled fear and anxiety in federal workers and their families and disrupted public services, have been reversed or partially reversed, and most have been challenged in courts. Giving the executive branch fast-track authority to continue down this road unabated would cause even more disruption, further minimizing the role Congress should play in any reorganization of federal government.
We support H.Res. 187 because it would require the president to give the House documents regarding the removal of inspectors general (IGs) from federal agencies. IGs are a vital independent, objective voice in federal agencies, with the authority to conduct investigations and audits. Their removal eliminates an important safeguard for taxpayers as well as a necessary layer of oversight. In fact, removing IGs contradicts the administration’s stated goal of preventing and detecting waste and fraud.
NEA members know how important collective bargaining is to their ability to advocate for the resources their students and schools need and believe unions should be protected for all workers, including federal employees. Please OPPOSE H.R. 1210, H.R. 2249, H.R. 2174, and, H.R. 1295. To promote greater oversight, please SUPPORT H.Res. 187.
Sincerely,
Marc Egan
Director of Government Relations
National Education Association
