Partnership for Public Service applauds new law strengthening hiring flexibilities at the Department of Veterans Affairs

August 12, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 12, 2017

CONTACT: Erika Walter

202-775-9111

PARTNERSHIP FOR PUBLIC SERVICE APPLAUDS NEW LAW STRENGTHENING HIRING FLEXIBILITIES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS

WASHINGTON – Partnership for Public Service President and CEO Max Stier released the following statement applauding President Donald Trump’s signing of S.114, the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017:

“With more than 45,000 vacant positions, the Department of Veterans Affairs needs new tools to recruit, hire and retain the talent it needs to serve our nation’s veterans. The VA Choice and Quality Employment Act will help the department fill mission-critical vacancies by holding senior political leaders accountable for hiring high-quality talent, and by providing HR professionals and hiring managers the flexibilities and training they need to address the department’s considerable workforce challenges.”

“Serving veterans is one of our government’s most important obligations.” Stier continued. “I commend Congress and the administration for their bipartisan leadership and commitment to improving the care provided to those who have served our country. The bipartisan and bicameral work of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans’ Affairs is a positive example of constructive, thoughtful oversight that is leading to real improvement in the way our government serves its citizens. I hope other committees will strive toward a collaborative, bipartisan approach in addressing our country’s challenges.”

Background on S.114:

As part of the commitment of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service to make the federal government more effective, it has engaged regularly with both the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees as part of their ongoing oversight of the VA’s talent needs. Most recently, the Partnership’s President and CEO Max Stier testified before the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs March 22, 2017 hearing on recruitment, hiring and retention at the agency.

During the past 16 years, the nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service has been dedicated to making the federal government more effective for the American people. We work across administrations to help transform the way government operates by increasing collaboration, accountability, efficiency and innovation. Visit opswebdev.wpengine.com to learn more.

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